Nordic Perspectives on Arctic Security

Introduction

In recent decades, the Arctic region has increasingly attracted global interest due to its climatic, economic, and political transformations. The Arctic’s strategic relevance has been particularly accentuated amidst rising tensions with Russia, especially following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This attention has, in turn, amplified the roles of the Nordic countries—the Kingdom of Denmark (comprising Denmark, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland), Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden—in regional security dynamics.¹

The accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO in 2023 and 2024, respectively, exemplifies the momentum towards deeper Nordic integration in security domains. This trajectory was further highlighted by United States (US) President Donald Trump’s comments in January 2025 regarding control over Greenland, drawing international scrutiny to the island’s strategic importance and the internal dynamics within the Kingdom of Denmark.²

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