Flash Points: NATO’s ‘Arctic Sparta’

And other reads on great-power politics in the High North. SEPTEMBER 8, 2024  |  [VIEW IN BROWSER](  |  [SUBSCRIBE](     Sponsored by [Seton Hall University]( [Finnish officers (right) watch participants in the Jaeger Brigade’s winter combat course, seen in the distance, in Sodankyla, Finland, on Jan. 10.]( Finnish officers (right) watch participants in the Jaeger Brigade’s winter combat course, seen in the distance, in Sodankyla, Finland, on Jan. 10. Andrea Prada Bianchi photos For two decades, Foreign Policy’s Keith Johnson [writes](, the Arctic has been the “perennial next great-power flash point.” But since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, experts fear that Arctic harmony has become even more precarious. As NATO has expanded northward, Russia has bulked up its military presence in the region, and Sino-Russian Arctic cooperation has deepened, predictions of a major clash have become—in Johnson’s words—“superheated.” This edition of Flash Points seeks to untangle what’s really happening in the Arctic—a place that is warming at a rate four times greater than the global average, where issues of climate, shipping, energy, and security all converge. Below, you’ll find our recent deep dives on the region, from a reported portrait of NATO’s new “Arctic Sparta” to a feature taking you inside a Norwegian Coast Guard patrol ship.—Chloe Hadavas   [1]( [A Temperature Check on NATO’s ‘Arctic Sparta’]( [The Finnish town of Ivalo now hosts the closest base to mainland Russia accessible to U.S. troops.]( [By Andrea Prada Bianchi](   [2]( [The Arctic Great Game Won’t Be Won in U.S. Shipyards]( [The High North is an arena of great-power competition, but Russia is the one with something to lose.]( [By Keith Johnson](   [3]( [NATO’s New Map]( [On NATO’s new map—with all of Scandinavia now in the alliance—everything has to be connected.]( [By Jack Detsch](   Don't let your window to the world close. [Enjoy uninterrupted FP access.](   [4]( [The End of American Exceptionalism in the High North]( [After years of inattention, the United States is playing catch-up where it once held significant sway.]( [By Kenneth R. Rosen](   [5]( [Arctic Harmony Is Falling Apart]( [An isolated Russia is turning to China for help in the north.]( [By Elisabeth Braw]( Sponsored [A World of Experience]( The School of Diplomacy and International Relations at Seton Hall University, has been ranked a best graduate school by GradReports. We’re a premier professional school located in the NY Metro area, that prepares students for diverse careers through collaborative mentorship, customizable programs in multi-lateral diplomacy. Study online/on campus. Participate in flagship research and leadership opportunities. [Start here](.   [The China Challenge]( Nicholas Burns, the U.S. ambassador to China since 2022, joined FP Live to discuss the state of the U.S.-China relationship, encompassing trade, technology, Taiwan, and more. [WATCH ON-DEMAND](   [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [LinkedIn]( You’re receiving this email at {EMAIL} because you signed up for FP's Flash Points newsletter. [MANAGE YOUR EMAIL PREFERENCES]( | [VIEW OUR PRIVACY POLICY]( | [UNSUBSCRIBE]( Interested in partnering with FP on events, podcasts, or research? [Explore FP Solutions](. [Foreign Policy]( is a division of Graham Holdings Company. All contents © 2024 Graham Digital Holding Company LLC. All rights reserved. Foreign Policy, 655 15th St NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC, 20005.