The Arctic, once viewed mainly as a remote environmental frontier, is becoming a region of growing global importance.
Climate change is reducing sea ice, opening new shipping routes and increasing access to natural resources. This is drawing the attention of major powers and reshaping strategic calculations.
Countries including Russia, United States and Canada are expanding their presence through infrastructure, military capability and economic planning.
The region is also important for science. Changes in the Arctic can influence weather patterns, sea levels and ecosystems far beyond the polar north.
At the same time, competition raises concerns about governance, environmental damage and the rights of Indigenous communities.
Experts say the Arctic illustrates how climate and geopolitics are becoming increasingly interconnected.
The future of the region may depend on whether cooperation can keep pace with strategic rivalry.
