The UK and the Defence of the High North

In this feature, the authors trace how Russian assertiveness, US ambitions in Greenland, and China’s growing polar presence are fracturing the Arctic into competing zones of influence and stretching the agency of European and smaller Arctic states. The authors then call for a new UK Arctic policy that links the High North to a 'Wider North', deepens cooperation with Nordic allies, and invests in long-term industrial, maritime and technological capabilities to sustain deterrence and resilience.