The Arctic Cold War: Why India Must Act Now or Be Frozen Out of Global Power

Manoj Ambat, Editor in Chief, Strategic Vanguard
Jun 7
3 min read

Updated: Jul 9

🧊 A Silent Storm Is Brewing at the Top of the World

For centuries, the Arctic remained a frozen wilderness, untouched by politics. Today, it's becoming the new front line of global power competition. As polar ice melts, powerful nations are racing to exploit this opening—militarily, economically, and strategically.

Russia is building military bases. The U.S. is conducting under-ice submarine drills. China, with no Arctic territory, is investing billions and calling itself a "near-Arctic state." Even NATO has declared the Arctic a critical security frontier.

And India? Despite its global ambitions, it's largely on the sidelines.

In this article, we explore why the Arctic matters—and why India cannot afford to ignore it.

🌐 The Arctic: A New Geopolitical Hotspot

The Arctic isn’t just about polar bears and melting glaciers. It’s about:

Shipping Routes: The Northern Sea Route cuts travel time between Asia and Europe by up to 40%. This could change global trade forever.
Energy Reserves: The Arctic holds 13% of the world’s undiscovered oil and 30% of natural gas.
Strategic Access: Missile paths between the U.S. and Russia cross through the Arctic. It's a key domain for space tracking and submarine warfare.
Rare Earths and Minerals: Essential for modern technology and defense.

🛡️ The Key Players: Russia, China, USA, and NATO

🇷🇺 Russia: Arctic Supremacy

Owns the largest Arctic coastline.
Has over 50 icebreakers (including nuclear-powered ones).
Militarizing the Arctic with air bases, S-400 systems, and special Arctic brigades.

🇨🇳 China: The Silent Intruder

Declared itself a "Near-Arctic State."
Investing in Arctic ports, scientific research, and infrastructure.
Promoting the Polar Silk Road under its Belt and Road Initiative.

🇺🇸 United States: Playing Catch-Up

Modernizing bases in Alaska.
Boosting its icebreaker fleet.
Increasing under-ice military operations and NATO Arctic exercises.

🇮🇳 Where Is India?

India established the Himadri research station in Norway in 2008 and became an observer in the Arctic Council in 2013. But its presence remains mostly symbolic.

No Arctic strategy or white paper.
No military or trade doctrine addressing Arctic routes.
Scientific engagement is minimal and inconsistent.

Compared to China’s aggressive Arctic outreach, India risks strategic irrelevance in this new global theatre.

⚠️ Why the Arctic Matters to India

Here’s why India can no longer afford to ignore the far north:

Energy Security: Future oil and gas may come from Arctic basins.
Climate Linkage: Melting Arctic ice is affecting India’s monsoon and causing extreme heatwaves.
Geopolitical Influence: China’s Arctic activity is part of its broader global strategy. India must not get outflanked.
Trade Diversification: Arctic routes could offer faster, cheaper shipping options for Indian exports.
Science & Tech Leadership: Arctic cooperation can elevate India’s role in global climate science and remote sensing.

🧭 What Should India Do?

For India to assert its presence in the Arctic Cold War, it must:

✅ Publish an Arctic Policy White Paper✅ Expand the Himadri station and scientific missions✅ Invest in ice-class vessels and Arctic maritime partnerships✅ Establish Arctic research fellowships and think tank collaborations✅ Include Arctic in its Indo-Pacific strategic discourse

❄️ Final Thoughts

The Arctic Cold War has begun.Russia, China, the U.S., and NATO are all maneuvering for dominance. The melting ice has revealed more than just new sea lanes—it has exposed a new battleground for influence, power, and survival.

India cannot afford to be a spectator.

If we aim to be a global power, we must start acting like one—even at the top of the world.