Russia strengthens alerts about NATO's military expansion in Svalbard

Geopolitical tensions in the Arctic continue to escalate. Russia has expressed concern to Norway and NATO regarding the inclusion of the Svalbard archipelago in the alliance’s military planning. According to reports from specialized media, Andrey Chemerilo, Russia’s Consul General in Svalbard, issued a written response to The Wall Street Journal explaining Moscow’s stance on this strategic issue.

The Geopolitical Dilemma of Svalbard: 1920 Treaty vs. New Tensions

Svalbard represents one of the most complex territories on the planet from an international legal perspective. Its status quo was established by the Svalbard Treaty, signed in 1920, a document that formally recognizes Norwegian sovereignty over the archipelago. However, what makes this treaty unique is the clause of equality: signatory countries, including Russia, have equal rights to exploit the natural resources within Svalbard and its territorial waters. This feature makes the archipelago a de facto shared space, where political authority resides in Oslo but economic activity is distributed among multiple powers.

The 1920 document was conceived as a mechanism for international stability following the upheavals of World War I. A hundred years later, this stability is being challenged by shifts in the global balance of power and the accelerating competition for resources in extreme latitudes.

The Russian Warning: Sovereignty and Shared Rights in the Arctic

Russia’s position is clear: any militarization of Svalbard would violate the legal framework established in 1920. Moscow argues that the treaty has a specific nature that differentiates it from other territorial agreements. Turning the archipelago into a military base would strengthen NATO’s presence in the Arctic, disrupting the balance that has persisted for more than a century.

From Russia’s perspective, this military expansion is part of a broader NATO strategy to encircle its northern borders. The Arctic, far from being a remote region without geopolitical relevance, has become a crucial battleground among powers. Climate change has opened new maritime trade routes and made accessible mineral deposits, oil, and gas that had remained frozen under the ice for millennia.

Why Norway and NATO Seek to Reinforce Their Presence in the Arctic

Norwegian officials have suggested that their country should establish permanent military forces in Svalbard as a deterrent measure. This approach responds to several realities: increasing Russian activity in the region, NATO’s expansion following Finland and Sweden’s accession, and the need to ensure security in a space where strategic interests converge.

Norway, a NATO member since 1949, faces pressure from its allies to strengthen the defense of its northern territories. The Atlantic alliance, after the events in Ukraine, has recalibrated its regional priorities. The Arctic flank has become a primary strategic focus.

Natural Resources and Power: The True Battle in Svalbard

Beneath the surface of this formal geopolitical conflict lies a struggle over the Arctic’s natural resources. Svalbard and its surrounding waters contain significant reserves of natural gas, oil, iron ore, and other critical raw materials for modern economies. As climate change melts the polar ice, access to these resources becomes more feasible and consequently more contested.

Russia’s right to exploit these resources equitably, enshrined in the 1920 treaty, is a fundamental pillar for Moscow. Militarizing Svalbard could enable NATO and Norway to channel these riches toward the Western bloc, leaving Russia on the margins of a crucial source of income.

Ultimately, the Russian warning reflects a power struggle over resource distribution in the Arctic and the shaping of the geopolitical order in extreme latitudes. The Svalbard archipelago has become a symbol of this broader contest between Russia and the West for dominance in a region that, just a decade ago, seemed frozen in time—both literally and geopolitically.