MILITARY CAPABILITIES IN THE ARCTIC by Siemon T. Wezeman
SIPRI Background Paper – March 2012
“In recent years the forecast of far-reaching climate change in the Arctic has led to fears of future conflict in the region. Such fears have been expressed in official documents, including defence policy documents, of the five Arctic littoral states—Canada, Denmark, Norway, Russia and the United States. Three of them—Canada, Denmark and Russia—have recently adopted foreign and defence policies that have put a special emphasis on the Arctic.
They have strengthened their military presence in the Arctic or increased military capabilities for Arctic use and have presented plans for additional military strengthening. Meanwhile, Norway has moved a substantial part of its operational forces to the north of the country. Of the five littoral states, only the USA has placed less focus on Arctic security.
This paper provides an overview of the military capabilities of Canada, Denmark, Norway, Russia and the USA for operations in the Arctic and the ongoing or planned improvements in those capabilities, especially in the Arctic areas beyond their national territories.”
Available at SIPRI website: http://books.sipri.org/product_info?c_product_id=442
