Arctic Opening: Insecurity and Opportunity

The Arctic is opening. Global warming is leading to seasonal sea-ice retreat, which in turn opens hitherto impassable shipping routes and new areas for resource exploitation. Such changes are elevating the Arctic’s geostrategic value and stoking inter-state competition. The admission of five Asian states as Arctic Council observers in 2013 underlines the increased importance of the High North in global politics. And as the sea ice retreats, so military forces are redeployed northwards, raising the prospect of conflict. Christian Le Mière and Jeffrey Mazo bring much-needed sobriety to the discussion of change in the Arctic, outlining the possibilities of and limits to economic opportunities in the High North while providing a detailed examination of the political and military changes this might bring. Their analysis provides an invaluable guide as the region transforms from a parochial concern to a global interest.

Jeff Mazo and Christian Le Mière have taken a complex subject and, in clear, straight-forward, highly readable prose, explain what everyone should know about the Arctic. They objectively describe the changes in the Arctic brought about by climate change in a way that neither sensationalises nor downplays the momentous changes at the top of the world. Highly recommended.’

Dr David W. Titley, Rear Admiral, US Navy (Retd); Director, Center for Solutions to Weather and Climate Risk, Penn State University


A captivating, thought-provoking and imaginative introduction into trends, challenges and opportunities that are reshaping the Arctic today and may reshape the world tomorrow.’

Anton Vasiliev, Ambassador at Large, Senior Arctic Official of the Russian Federation



Christian Le Mière is Senior Fellow for Naval Forces and Maritime Security at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. 

Jeffrey Mazo is Consulting Senior Fellow for Environmental Security and Science Policy and Consulting Editor, Survival at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.