Arctic Security - An Equation with Multiple Unknowns

Authors

  • Rear Admiral Nils Wang Royal Danish Defence Academy

Abstract

The inclusion of China, India, Japan, Singapore and Italy as permanent observers in the Arctic Council has increased the international status of this forum significantly. This chapter aims to explain the background for the increased international interest in the Arctic region through an analysis of the general security situation and to identify both the explicit and the implicit agendas of the primary state actors. The region contains all the ingredients for confrontation and conflict but the economical potential for all the parties concerned creates a general interest in dialogue and cooperation. The so-called ‘scramble for resources’ might be competitive but it will most likely be on commercial terms.

Author Biography

Rear Admiral Nils Wang, Royal Danish Defence Academy

Rear Admiral Nils Wang is one of Denmark’s leading analysts on issues related to Arctic security and the relationship between Denmark and Greenland. Before he became Commandant of the Danish Defence College he was Head of the Royal Danish Navy for five years and as such also responsible for the Danish Patrol Ships operating in the Arctic. Rear Admiral Nils Wang´s more than ten years of active sea duty in the Danish Navy includes 5 years in Arctic Waters around Greenland. Nils Wang was involved in the development of the ‘Kingdom of Denmark - Strategy for the Arctic 2011-2020’.

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Published

2014-01-23

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 2 (2013)

Section

Articles