Arctic Policies and Strategies of Norway and the Kingdom of Denmark: Cooperation, Competition and Arctic Geopolitics

Year 2025, Volume: 12 Issue: 3, 950 - 970, 30.09.2025

Duygu Özlük

Abstract

The Arctic region has become one of the most contested territories in the world over the past two decades, with great power competition among the USA, Russia, and China. This increased focus is motivated not only by great power rivalry but also by the region's abundant natural resources, emerging trade routes resulting from climate change, and the concerning effects of glacial melting. Despite their pivotal roles in Arctic governance and regional cooperation, the Arctic strategies of Norway and the Kingdom of Denmark remain insufficiently examined. This study highlights how Norway and Denmark promote their national interests while engaging with the Arctic governance framework, drawing on neoliberal institutionalism and regime theory. It contends that despite increasing securitization and strategic rivalry—particularly following Russia's invasion of Ukraine—both nations play crucial roles in sustaining regional cooperation and stability. By examining the strategies and policies of Norway and Denmark in the Arctic, the study argues that Arctic cooperation models would be inadequate without a thorough analysis of these two countries.

Keywords

Arctic , High North , Arctic Council , Norway , Denmark

Ethical Statement

Ethics Committee approval was not required for this study. The author declares that the study was conducted in accordance with research and publication ethics. The author confirms that no part of the study was generated, either wholly or in part, using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools. The author declares that there are no financial conflicts of interest involving any institution, organization, or individual associated with this article. The author affirms that the entire research process was performed by the sole declared author of the study.

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