Arctic Governance, Geopolitics, and Security
Article
from American Journal of International Law Unbound

The Future of the Arctic Council

From The Future of a Melting Arctic: Challenges for International Law

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A map of Arctic Council member states and observer states.

Extract

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.

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Recommended citation

Balton, David and Timo Koivurova. “The Future of the Arctic Council.” American Journal of International Law Unbound, April 20, 2026

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Author

Timo Koivurova