The Arctic
In the spring of 2026, the Swedish Institute of International Affairs will establish an Arctic Programme dedicated to conducting research and analysis concerning developments in the Arctic region. The Programme’s purpose is to provide Swedish policymakers with enhanced expertise and relevant analyses, as well as to contribute to raising the overall level of knowledge regarding the Arctic region within Swedish society.
The Arctic has, in a short period of time, gained increased security and defence‑policy significance. This shift is driven in part by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the growing threat to Europe, China’s expanding strategic and economic interests in the region, and a renewed strategic focus on the Arctic from the United States.
At the same time, climate change is driving a rapid transformation of the region’s environment and living conditions. Accelerating permafrost thaw and the continued decline in sea ice are affecting ecosystems while enabling increased maritime traffic and potentially greater access to natural resources.
The project is under development in the spring of 2026.
Region
The Arctic is the area surrounding the North Pole and comprises the northernmost parts of eight countries: Denmark (Greenland), Finland, Iceland, Canada, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the United States (Alaska).
