{"id":165999,"date":"2025-05-13T19:16:18","date_gmt":"2025-05-13T13:46:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?post_type=current-affairs&p=165999"},"modified":"2025-05-13T19:16:18","modified_gmt":"2025-05-13T13:46:18","slug":"arctic-council","status":"publish","type":"current-affairs","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/arctic-council","title":{"rendered":"Arctic Council"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-165994 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/135-682346d1403a3.webp\" alt=\"Arctic Council\" width=\"304\" height=\"367\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/135-682346d1403a3.webp 457w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/135-682346d1403a3-248x300.webp 248w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 304px) 100vw, 304px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Denmark assumed the rotating chairmanship of the Arctic Council, taking over from Norway.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The transition comes at a time of heightened geopolitical sensitivity in the Arctic region \u2014 particularly as US President Donald Trump renews efforts to annex Greenland.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>About the Arctic Council<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>The Arctic is governed by the <\/b><b><i>Arctic Council<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, an intergovernmental body formed in <\/span><b>1996 through the Ottawa Declaration.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"vc_table_green\"><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 99.5978%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 18.9379%; text-align: center;\"><b>Aspect<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 83.4752%; text-align: center;\"><b>Details<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 18.9379%;\"><b>Established<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 83.4752%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1996<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 18.9379%;\"><b>Nature<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 83.4752%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Intergovernmental forum \u2014 does <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">not<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> deal with military\/security issues<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 18.9379%;\"><b>Mandate<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 83.4752%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Promotes cooperation on environmental protection, sustainable development, and Indigenous rights in the Arctic region<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 18.9379%;\"><b>Member Countries<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 83.4752%;\"><b>8 Nations:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Russia, US, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 18.9379%;\"><b>Permanent Participants<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 83.4752%;\"><b>6 Indigenous organizations representing Arctic peoples<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 18.9379%;\"><b>Observers<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 83.4752%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">States and Non-States organizations\u00a0 can be Observer<\/span><b> (Total 38)<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India has been an Observer since <\/span><b>2013.<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 18.9379%;\"><b>Recent Tensions<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 83.4752%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Post-2022, following Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine, 7 members paused cooperation with Russia, previously the largest Arctic player and former Council chair.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><\/div>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Why is the Arctic Gaining Strategic Importance?\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-165995 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/136-682346ce724ef.webp\" alt=\"Arctic Council\" width=\"396\" height=\"383\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/136-682346ce724ef.webp 586w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/136-682346ce724ef-300x290.webp 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 396px) 100vw, 396px\" \/><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><b>Climate Change and Ice Melt: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rapid <\/span><b>melting of Arctic ice due to global warming<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is opening up previously inaccessible areas for further explorations..<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is creating new shipping routes<\/span><b> (e.g., the Northern Sea Route)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and allowing exploration of vast natural resources like <\/span><b>oil, gas, and rare earth metals.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>New Maritime Trade Routes:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Arctic routes can reduce<\/span><b> shipping time and costs between Europe and Asia by up to 40%.<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This challenges the economic dominance of traditional sea lanes such as the <\/span><b>Suez Canal and Malacca Strait.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Geopolitical Competition:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Russia is strengthening its military and economic presence in the Arctic.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The US and China are expanding their strategic focus in the region. China calls itself a <\/span><b>&#8220;near-Arctic state&#8221; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and is investing in <\/span><b>Arctic infrastructure and research.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Strategic Location of Greenland: Greenland\u2019s location<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> offers control over<\/span><b> North Atlantic routes and proximity to the Arctic Ocean.<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">US interest in purchasing Greenland (revived under Trump) indicates its value for military and energy strategy.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Energy and Resource Potential:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The Arctic is estimated to hold<\/span><b> 13% of the world\u2019s undiscovered <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">oil and<\/span><b> 30% of its undiscovered gas reserves<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Access to these resources is becoming increasingly feasible, making the <\/span><b>Arctic a zone of resource diplomacy.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Environmental and Climate Governance: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Arctic Council, though<\/span><b> not a security body,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> plays a crucial role in<\/span><b> sustainable development, climate research, and biodiversity preservation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Indigenous Rights and Cooperation: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Arctic Council<\/span><b> integrates Indigenous communities<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as permanent participants. Their involvement strengthens <\/span><b>inclusive governance and sustainable practices in the region<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Significance of Arctic for India<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><b>Observer Role in Arctic Council:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> India has been an observer to the<\/span><b> Arctic Council since 2013<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and participates in meetings, enabling scientific collaboration and policy dialogue.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Strategic Interests in Shipping and Trade: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New Arctic shipping lanes may<\/span><b> diversify India\u2019s energy transportation route<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">s and<\/span><b> reduce dependence on choke points<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> like the<\/span><b> Strait of Hormuz <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and the Malacca Strait.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Climate Research and Global Climate Role: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India&#8217;s engagement in the Arctic enhances its climate diplomacy credentials and contributes to polar and oceanographic research (via <\/span><b>Himadri research station in Svalbard, Norway).<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Energy Security and Resource Access:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Arctic energy reserves are of long-term interest to India for diversifying its energy basket. India has also<\/span><b> signed MOUs with Russia for Arctic oil and gas exploration.<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Diplomatic Leverage: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Active Arctic involvement aligns India with other global powers and strengthens its claim as a responsible stakeholder in global governance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Balancing China\u2019s Arctic Ambitions: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India\u2019s calibrated presence counters China&#8217;s growing influence in Arctic affairs, ensuring that the<\/span><b> region remains multilateral and inclusive.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div class=\"vc_table_green\"><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 99.5966%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"width: 100%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: rgba(184, 165, 217, 0.53); text-align: left; vertical-align: middle;\">\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 16pt; color: #000000;\"><b>PWOnlyIAS Extra Edge: The Arctic Ocean<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Location:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The Arctic Ocean is the smallest and shallowest of the world&#8217;s major oceans, located around<\/span><b> the North Pole.<\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Features:<\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Covered by sea ice for most of the year.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>key marginal seas:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Barents Sea, Kara Sea, Laptev Sea, Beaufort Sea, and Chukchi Sea.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Influenced by polar climate and significant for climate regulation of the Northern Hemisphere.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_table_green\"><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 99.6375%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 111.19%; text-align: center;\" colspan=\"2\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Also Read<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 49.797%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/editorial-analysis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>UPSC Daily Editorials<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 61.393%; 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