Arctic Frontier Fortress: The Case for Militarizing Svalbard

Svalbard is a sparsely populated collection of islands to the north of Norway and northwest of major naval and air bases in Russia. Given its geographic position and complex international status, regulated by a 1920 treaty, Svalbard has long been a target for Russian and Soviet aggression, and recent developments in the Arctic and in Europe suggest that the threat from Moscow remains relevant today. By examining Svalbard’s geographic position, its history, the presence of Russian assets on the islands, and current Russian stances towards the Arctic, it becomes clear that Svalbard holds considerable strategic significance to Moscow. NATO and the United States must reevaluate their stance towards Svalbard and consider taking steps to militarize the islands and turn them into a fortress against Russian encroachment in the north.