There’s no question that Moscow has had a dominating presence in the Arctic region. And while the Arctic accounts for only a small fraction of the global economy – some 0.4% according to the Arctic Council, the forum that represents Arctic states – Russia controls two thirds of the region’s GDP. Russia’s Arctic military mightRussia has been expanding its military footprint in the Arctic for decades, investing in new and existing facilities in the region. There are 66 military sites and hundreds more defense installations and outposts within the broader Arctic region, according to the Simons Foundation, a Canadian non-profit that monitors Arctic security and nuclear disarmament. In 2024, China and Russia launched a joint patrol in the Arctic, part of a broader collaboration between the two.

Source: CNN January 21, 2026 14:30 UTC