Arctic: The new Suez?

August 30, 2026 2:01 PM

Arctic: The new Suez?

On 22nd August, a South Korean container ship departs Busan New Port, but instead of heading west towards the Suez Canal, it sails north. The vessel is navigating past Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, crossing the Bering Strait and venturing into the Arctic’s Northern Sea Route. This 5,600–kilometre maritime corridor hugs Russia’s Arctic coastline. It connects the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, stretching from the Bering Strait to the Barents Sea. South Korea isn’t alone in testing whether...

NATO drills for war in Arctic with focus on civilians being ready

March 9, 2026 4:19 PM

NATO drills for war in Arctic with focus on civilians being ready

NATO began its biennial drills in the Arctic on Monday, this ​time placing more emphasis on the role of civilians in supporting the military, at ‌a time of high tension over U.S. President Trump's push to take over Greenland from fellow NATO member Denmark. The drills, named Cold Response, focus on defending the alliance in the European Arctic, where NATO-members Norway and Finland share a border with ​Russia, and will run March 9-19 this time. The exercise has now become part of Arctic ...