The Art of the Arctic: High North, Higher Stakes

May 16, 08:30-09:45

Room: Seville

For centuries, the Arctic has held geopolitical importance, yet indigenous peoples have had very little say over the decisions that affect their ancestral lands. Until recently, Arctic states have been able to find areas for cooperation. Now, the melting ice has opened prospective trade routes and transformed the north into a crossroads of competing interests: Russia’s military buildup, China’s strategic ambitions, and US territorial claims. Will the NATO Allies, indigenous communities, and like-minded partners be able to agree on a clear strategy? Will the commitments made in warm rooms survive the cold? And who will write the new Arctic order?