Svalbard: Putin's trump card in the Arctic? | Mapped Out

The Arctic island group of Svalbard is not supposed to be used for warlike purposes such as military bases, but temperatures around it are rising. And it's not just climate change. Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, NATO and Russia are increasingly facing off in the ice around the Norwegian archipelago. Svalbard, which includes Spitsbergen, is a unique place: With polar bears, scientific infrastructure like the huge satellite station SvalSat, and a historic treaty that grants over forty countries access. The Svalbard Treaty is also supposed to keep it peaceful. But as the sea ice in the Arctic melts, the area is opening up. That means new economic opportunities and trade routes, but it also means geopolitical shifts. Which is particularly relevant with the Iran war still unfolding, and the outcome of Russia's war in Ukraine still uncertain. Russia has been building up its military capabilities in the Arctic for decades, with military bases, nuclear submarines and dozens of polar icebreakers – all in the ocean around Svalbard. Now NATO is pushing to catch up.

#mappedout #Russia #nato #dwgeopolitics

For more news go to

Follow DW on social media:

Für Videos in deutscher Sprache besuchen Sie