US Arctic Strategy 2024 to prevent Russia, China from exploiting icy northern region

Sub: IR

Sec: Places in news

Context:

The new Arctic Strategy 2024 of the US aims to enhance surveillance, intelligence capabilities, and cooperation with allies in the Arctic to counter potential threats from Russia and China.

Details:

Eight nations have a presence in the Arctic, including Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, the United States and Russia.
The strategy calls for deploying more ground-based sensors, space-based sensors, and long-range radar to monitor adversary activities.
It also focuses on increasing unmanned aerial reconnaissance and communication capabilities.
The accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO strengthens the alliance in the Arctic, leaving Russia as the only non-NATO Arctic nation.
The strategy envisions increased joint exercises and cooperation to counter Russian and Chinese activities.

Russian and Chinese Activities in the Arctic:

The US is concerned about Russia’s continued infrastructure investments and China’s increased activities, including joint Russian-Chinese naval patrols near Alaska’s Aleutian Islands.
China has declared itself a “near-Arctic state,” seeking a greater role in Arctic governance and investing in research expeditions, mining, and gas operations.

India’s Arctic Policy:

India’s Arctic Policy aims to enhance the country’s cooperation with the resource-rich and rapidly transforming Arctic region.
The policy also seeks to combat climate change and protect the environment in the region, which is warming three times faster than the rest of the world.
It was released by the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

There are Six Central Pillars of the Arctic policy:

Objectives of Arctic Policy:

To strengthen national capabilities and competencies in science and exploration, climate and environmental protection, and maritime and economic cooperation with the Arctic region.
To strengthen institutional and human resource capacities within the government and academic, research and business institutions through inter-ministerial coordination in pursuit of India’s interests in the Arctic.
To enhance understanding of the impact of climate change in the Arctic region on India’s climate, economic, and energy security.
To promote better analysis, prediction, and coordinated policymaking on the implications of ice melting in the Arctic on India’s economic, military and strategic interests related to global shipping routes, energy security, and exploitation of mineral wealth.
To study the linkages between polar regions and the Himalayas and deepen the cooperation between India and the countries of the Arctic region under various Arctic forums, drawing expertise from scientific and traditional knowledge.
To increase India’s participation in the Arctic Council and improve understanding of the complex governance structures in the Arctic, relevant international laws, and geopolitics of the region.

India and the Arctic Council