The Future of the Arctic Council
From The Future of a Melting Arctic: Challenges for International Law.
From The Future of a Melting Arctic: Challenges for International Law.
The Arctic Council, once considered a model intergovernmental forum, now faces profound challenges as it seeks to navigate geopolitical tensions arising from Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the ongoing war there. The advent of the second Trump administration has further complicated the work of the Arctic Council, due to the administration’s stances on climate change and its threats to make Greenland—and even Canada—part of the United States. This essay provides a brief history of the Arctic Council and its successes over the years and offers insights into its admittedly uncertain future.
Balton, David and Timo Koivurova. “The Future of the Arctic Council.” American Journal of International Law Unbound, April 20, 2026
The full text of this publication is available via American Journal of International Law Unbound.