The Arctic is a new centre of global security strategy. Independent analysis connects research and policy to support informed decisions.
An ocean at the centre. Eight states around it. Explore the geography, communities and connections that shape the Arctic.
Colour identifies states, not the boundary of the Arctic. Land areas only; maritime claims are not shown.
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Northern mainland & Arctic islands
Canada’s Arctic and North include Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, Yukon and northern parts of several provinces. Indigenous communities and their knowledge are central to understanding this vast region.
Related article from the archive Country profile · Arctic CouncilThe Arctic is also the homeland of Indigenous Peoples whose communities and cultures cross national borders. Learn more
Sources: Arctic Council — the eight states · Map data: Natural Earth (public domain)
Where do the polar regions begin? The polar circles, at roughly 66.6° north and south, provide a geographical reference. The Arctic can also be defined by climate or the northern tree line, so its boundaries vary with the definition. Polar day and polar night become longer towards the poles. NSIDC
Ocean in the north, continent in the south. While the Arctic centres on an ocean, Antarctica comprises the southern polar region around the ice-covered continent of Antarctica and its surrounding waters. There is no Indigenous population; research stations are staffed seasonally or year-round. International cooperation is governed by the Antarctic Treaty System. British Antarctic Survey
Ice, frozen ground and climate. Permafrost is ground that remains frozen for at least two consecutive years; it is not present everywhere in the polar regions. Ice loss also has different effects: melting glaciers and ice sheets on land raise sea levels, while melting floating sea ice has little direct effect on sea level. Permafrost · Ice and sea level
Navigation, rescue and environmental protection as traffic grows.
Mechanisms for effective, sustainably funded representation.
Supply-chain risk, local value creation and environmental trade-offs.
Coverage gaps, resilience and dual-use questions.
Monitoring, port-state measures and precautionary rules.
From hazard maps to prioritised local investment.
HELSINKI · 7 MAY 2019At the Arctic Security RoundtableIsabelle-Constance Opalinski at the conference table with fellow participants.See the full photo journal Isabelle-Constance Opalinski’s work focuses on Arctic security, geopolitics, and international cooperation. Through research, analysis, and international dialogue, she examines the region’s strategic significance and its implications for global security and governance.
ARCTIC SIGNALS
Satellites help connect remote Arctic communities, guide ships and support weather forecasts. By monitoring sea ice and environmental change, they also provide vital information for research and safer journeys. The moving satellites and glowing links illustrate these roles across the Arctic.
Learn more · European Space Agency ↗
Security in the polar regions is shaped by geopolitical change, environmental pressures, technological developments and international cooperation.
At the Arctic Security Roundtable in Helsinki, Isabelle-Constance Opalinski contributed her perspective to discussions with political and security-policy figures. The video and conference materials offer insight into this international dialogue on the future of Arctic and polar security.
Isabelle-Constance Opalinski contributed a question during the Arctic Security discussion at the Munich Security Conference 2026.
Press play to watch the question from 33:00.
Recording: DWS News on YouTube · Third-party upload, not the official MSC channel.
Panel details and full recording
8–10 October · Reykjavík, Iceland
Attending as a media representative, Isabelle-Constance Opalinski asks Lisa Murkowski, U.S. Senator for Alaska, about the importance of the Arctic during the plenary session. See 00:20 in Arctic Circle’s highlights.
Watch highlights · 00:20
An interview excerpt from Davos, published by The Beyond Tomorrow Podcast.
Watch the interview
Video and photographs from the international dialogue on Arctic security, with Lisa Murkowski, Isabelle-Constance Opalinski and Antti Pelttari.
Explore the roundtable
A long polar research tradition, the Polish Polar Consortium and the partnerships discussed at the Arctic Circle Assembly 2026.
Read the article →
What Europe’s new Arctic strategy means for security, research and local priorities—and how its delivery should be assessed.
Read the analysis →
Research, infrastructure and trust: Lisa Murkowski’s perspective on Arctic security and the priorities of northern communities.
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From glacier research in the Dolomites to scientific cooperation in Svalbard: Italy’s contribution to Arctic knowledge and diplomacy.
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Reykjavík, Iceland · 8–10 October 2026
Security, political trust, climate risks and scientific cooperation: a report on the discussions shaping the Arctic’s future.
Read the report →Selected articles first published in the der Freitag community. Read the full English translations or switch to the German originals. Dates refer to the original publications.
How Canada’s Arctic policy may develop under growing strategic pressure.
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An examination of US policy in the context of China and Russia.
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The debate over NATO enlargement, as viewed in June 2022.
Read the articleFor research enquiries, interview requests or speaking invitations—as well as questions about articles and corrections—write to info@arctic-politics.com.
COMMENTARY / GEOPOLITICS
Presence Is Not Yet Strategy
Military signals can deter, but can also increase the risk of miscalculation. The political objective behind presence is what matters.
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