Arctic Assets
Once considered nearly impenetrable, the Arctic is taking on new strategic importance as climate change melts its icy armor and trillions of dollars of resources become accessible. The eight nations that encircle the region are scrambling to assert and defend their claims over the Arctic, which remains one of the most daunting landscapes to project power on the planet.
Nations have jurisdiction over natural
resources on the seafloor in their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs), no more than
200 nautical miles from their coasts.
Median
September
ice extent
1981-2010
Finland
Sweden
North
Pole
Norway
Alaska
(U.S.)
greenland
(Kalaallit Nunaat)
(Denmark)
Iceland
Faroe
Islands
(Denmark)
Russia, Norway, Denmark, and Canada
have made claims to the seafloor
beyond their recognized EEZs.
Finland
Sweden
Norway
Alaska
(U.S.)
greenland
(Kalaallit Nunaat)
(Denmark)
Iceland
Faroe
Islands
(Denmark)
Russia argues two underwater ridges
are on the Eurasian continental shelf—
and thus that its exclusive rights to the
seafloor extend all the way to the pole.
Lomonosov
Ridge
Lomonosov
Ridge
Finland
Sweden
Norway
Mendeleev
Ridge
Mendeleev
Ridge
Alaska
(U.S.)
greenland
(Kalaallit Nunaat)
(Denmark)
Iceland
Faroe
Islands
(Denmark)
In May Canada submitted a claim
to the UN for 463,000 square miles of
the Arctic seafloor, contesting Danish and
Russian claims to some of the same territory.
Finland
Sweden
Norway
Alaska
(U.S.)
greenland
(Kalaallit Nunaat)
(Denmark)
Iceland
Faroe
Islands
(Denmark)
Russia’s military is outpacing its
Arctic neighbors as it builds new bases
and stations larger forces in the far north.
Finland
Sweden
Norway
Alaska
(U.S.)
greenland
(Kalaallit Nunaat)
(Denmark)
Iceland
Faroe
Islands
(Denmark)
Canada and Russia are building Arctic ports
to serve as strategic hubs for refueling
and moving cargo and troops.
Finland
Sweden
Norway
Alaska
(U.S.)
greenland
(Kalaallit Nunaat)
(Denmark)
Iceland
Faroe
Islands
(Denmark)
All Arctic countries rely on a mix
of civil and military airfields to move throughout their frozen territories.
Finland
Sweden
Norway
Alaska
(U.S.)
greenland
(Kalaallit Nunaat)
(Denmark)
Iceland
Faroe
Islands
(Denmark)
Icebreakers are key tools for projecting
power in the Arctic, plowing through sea ice
so ships can follow in their wake. Russia has more icebreakers than any other nation;
China is also investing substantially in them. The U.S. has just one operational heavy icebreaker, used mostly in Antarctica.
Active icebreaker
Unavailable
Heavy icebreakers
Year-round operation in moderate
multiyear ice
Planned
Under construction
Medium
Year-round operation
in thick first-year ice
Light
Summer/
autumn operation
in medium first-year ice
Arctic Council
states
The eight
countries with land in the Arctic make up the Arctic Council. Iceland is a member but has no icebreakers.
Arctic
Council
observer status
Non-Arctic states approved by
the council with no voting rights
Non-
Arctic countries
Jason Treat and Riley D. Champine, Ngm Staff;
Scott Elder. Sources: Jane’s By Ihs Markit;
Office Of Senator Dan Sullivan; National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency; U.s. Coast Guard Office Of Waterways And Ocean Policy; International Boundaries Research Unit
Arctic Assets
Once considered nearly impenetrable, the Arctic is taking on new strategic importance as climate change melts its icy armor and trillions of dollars of resources become accessible. The eight nations that encircle the region are scrambling to assert and defend their claims over the Arctic, which remains one of the most daunting landscapes to project power on the planet.
All nations have jurisdiction over natural resources on the seafloor of their exclusive economic zones (EEZs) no more than 200 nautical miles from their coasts. Arctic nations have begun bolstering their infrastructure in the north in anticipation of increased commerce and activity.
Land
Naval
Rescue
Air
Ports
Canada and Russia are building Arctic ports to serve as strategic hubs for refueling and moving cargo and troops.
Military bases
Russia’s military is outpacing its Arctic neighbors as it builds new bases and stations larger forces in the far north.
Airfields
All Arctic countries rely on a mix of civil and military airfields to move throughout their frozen territories.
Yakutsk
Norilsk
Median
September
ice extent
1981-2010
Arkhangelsk
New
Siberian Is.
Polar competition
Russia argues the Lomonosov and Mendeleev Ridges are on the Eurasian continental shelf—
and thus that its exclusive rights to the seafloor extend all the
way to the pole.
North Land
Murmansk
Russian
claim
Franz Josef Land
(Russia)
Finland
Norwegian
claims
Sweden
Russian
claim
Svalbard
(Norway)
Wrangel I.
Danish
claim
Mendeleev Ridge
North
Pole
Norway
U.S. EEZ boundary
Danish
claim
Unclaimed
Canadian
claim
Utqiaġvik
(Barrow)
Jan Mayen
(Norway)
Faroe
Islands
(Denmark)
Alert
Alaska
(U.S.)
Canadian claims
In May Canada submitted a claim to the UN for 463,000 square miles of the Arctic seafloor, contesting Danish and Russian claims to some of the same territory.
Fairbanks
Hans Island
Ft. Greely
Overlapping
U.S./Canada
EEZ claims
greenland
(Kalaallit Nunaat)
(Denmark)
Northern Warfare
Training Center
Iceland
Thule (U.S.)
Keflavík
Cornwallis I.
Nanisivik
King
William I.
Gjoa Haven
Arctic refueling
The new port at Nanisivik
will provide refueling for
the Canadian Coast Guard and Navy, which will patrol the Northwest Passage as melting opens it to shipping.
Flying eyes
From a base at Keflavík, Iceland, NATO sends up regular air patrols to conduct surveillance and provide an early warning in the event of an incursion by Russian forces.
Nuuk
Icebreakers are key tools for projecting power in the Arctic, plowing through sea ice so ships can follow in their wake. Russia has more icebreakers than any other nation; China is also investing substantially in them. The U.S. has just one operational heavy icebreaker, used mostly in Antarctica.
Medium
Year-round operation in thick first-year ice
Light icebreakers
Summer/autumn operation in medium first-year ice
Heavy
Year-round operation in moderate multiyear ice
Russia
Arctic Council states
The eight countries with land in the Arctic make up the Arctic Council. Iceland is a member but has no icebreakers.
U.S.
Canada
Finland
Sweden
Denmark
Norway
Arctic Council
observer status
Non-Arctic states approved by the council with no voting rights
S. Korea
China
Germany
France
Italy
Japan
Chinese influence
With no Arctic territory
of its own, China is
partnering with Russia
to extract resources and
establish trade routes
as the Arctic thaws.
India
U.K.
Active icebreaker
Unavailable
S. Africa
Australia
Planned
Non-Arctic countries
Latvia
Estonia
Under construction
Argentina
Chile
Jason Treat and Riley D. Champine, Ngm Staff; Scott Elder.
Sources: Jane’s By Ihs Markit; Office Of Senator Dan Sullivan; National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency; U.s. Coast Guard Office Of Waterways And Ocean Policy; International Boundaries Research Unit