Arctic and Antarctica

The CSIS Americas Program; Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program; Energy Security and Climate Change Program; and Missile Defense Project provide analysis and policy recommendations through the Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department on the growing geopolitical and strategic challenges in the Arctic and Antarctica.

Photo: U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Grant DeVuyst

How the United States Can Overcome Icebreaker Construction Woes and Grow the Maritime Industrial Base

The United States needs to rapidly recapitalize and increase its fleet of three polar icebreakers to address national security risks in the Arctic. Foreign ship construction can rapidly deliver the needed icebreakers as the U.S. grows its domestic shipbuilding industry.

Report by Luke Slivinski — July 15, 2025

What Can the United States Do to Counter Growing Chinese and Russian Influence in Antarctica?

Commentary by William "Bill" Muntean III — April 18, 2025

China’s Polar Ambitions: A Conversation with Dr. Matthew Funaiole and Mr. Brian Hart

Podcast Episode by Bonny Lin, Matthew P. Funaiole, and Brian Hart — January 16, 2025

China Makes Progress on Its Fifth Antarctic Research Station

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Commentary by Matthew P. Funaiole, Brian Hart, Aidan Powers-Riggs, Jennifer Jun, and Joseph S. Bermudez Jr. — December 19, 2024

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Recent Events

Photo: Rob Jones/National Science Foundation/Getty images

Antarctic Global Diplomacy—Preview of the Annual Antarctic Treaty Meeting

May 8, 2025 • 10:00 – 11:00 am EDT

Hosted by Americas Program

Examining PRC Activities in the Arctic

December 5, 2024 • 9:30 – 10:15 am EST

Hosted by Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program

Photo: U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joseph P. LeVeille

Air and Missile Defense in the High North

July 11, 2024 • 12:00 – 2:00 pm EDT

Hosted by Missile Defense Project

Canada’s Role in Global Maritime Security

November 3, 2023 • 11:00 – 11:45 am EDT

Hosted by International Security Program

Photo: Petty Officer 3rd Class Jessica Fontenette, USCG.

The U.S. Coast Guard in an Era of Great Power Competition with ADM Linda L. Fagan

October 17, 2023 • 2:30 – 3:30 pm EDT

Hosted by International Security Program

Photo: Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty Images

Arctic Geopolitics: Svalbard and the European High North

October 10, 2023 • 3:30 – 4:30 pm EDT

Hosted by Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program

Photo: MAXIME POPOV/AFP via Getty Images

Arctic Security after a Year of War

January 25, 2023 • 4:00 – 4:45 pm EST

Hosted by Lillan and Robert D. Stuart Jr. Center in Euro-Atlantic and Northern European Studies

At a Crossroads: Finland's Perspectives on Transatlantic Security

May 27, 2022 • 9:00 – 9:45 am EDT

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Americas Program

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Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program

Hidden Reach

Missile Defense Project

Experts

Otto Svendsen

Associate Fellow, Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program

Max Bergmann

Director, Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program and Stuart Center

William "Bill" Muntean III

Senior Associate (Non-resident), Americas Program

Joseph S. Bermudez Jr.

Senior Fellow for Imagery Analysis, iDeas Lab and Korea Chair

All Arctic and Antarctica Content

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How the United States Can Overcome Icebreaker Construction Woes and Grow the Maritime Industrial Base

Report by Luke Slivinski — July 15, 2025

Antarctic Global Diplomacy—Preview of the Annual Antarctic Treaty Meeting

Join the Americas Program for a conversation on what will be discussed at this year's Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings.

Event — May 8, 2025

What Can the United States Do to Counter Growing Chinese and Russian Influence in Antarctica?

CSIS Americas Program Senior Associate Bill Muntean lays out the implications of reduced U.S. funding for the Antarctic amid China-Russia collaboration in the South Pole.

Commentary by William "Bill" Muntean III — April 18, 2025

ChinaPower

China’s Polar Ambitions: A Conversation with Dr. Matthew Funaiole and Mr. Brian Hart

In this episode of the ChinaPower Podcast, Dr. Matthew Funaiole and Mr. Brian Hart join us to discuss China’s ambitions in the polar regions. They start by explaining China’s scientific, commercial, strategic, and diplomatic interests in the polar regions and how the polar regions fit into China’s broader strategy of leveraging “new strategic frontiers” to expand its influence, outpace rivals, and set global rules and norms.

Podcast Episode by Bonny Lin, Matthew P. Funaiole, and Brian Hart — January 16, 2025

China Makes Progress on Its Fifth Antarctic Research Station

New satellite imagery, including images captured using synthetic aperture radar, shows recent construction progress at Qinling Station, China's newest research station in Antarctica.

Commentary by Matthew P. Funaiole, Brian Hart, Aidan Powers-Riggs, Jennifer Jun, and Joseph S. Bermudez Jr. — December 19, 2024

Examining PRC Activities in the Arctic

Please join the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program for a conversation with Iris A. Ferguson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Arctic and Global Resilience, on PRC activities in the Arctic.

Event — December 5, 2024

Forecasts and Recommendations about the Second Trump Administration Policies toward the Two Polar Regions

CSIS Americas Program senior associate Bill Muntean discusses the policy priorities of the incoming Trump administration towards the Arctic and the Antarctic and provides recommendations to achieve these priorities.

Commentary by William "Bill" Muntean III — December 5, 2024

Audio Briefs

Recruiting Friends for the Polar Icebreaker Express: Viewing the ICE Pact through Broader Defense Industrial Cooperation

An audio version of “Recruiting Friends for the Polar Icebreaker Express: Viewing the ICE Pact through Broader Defense Industrial Cooperation,” a new Critical Questions by CSIS’s Katy Buda, Gregory Sanders, and Cynthia Cook. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs.

Podcast Episode by Katy Buda, Gregory Sanders, and Cynthia R. Cook — August 1, 2024

Recruiting Friends for the Polar Icebreaker Express: Viewing the ICE Pact through Broader Defense Industrial Cooperation

Canada, Finland, and the United States are establishing an Icebreaker Collaboration Effort or "Ice Pact" to build icebreaker shipbuilding capacity. What can broader international defense industrial cooperation trends tell us about this initiative?

Critical Questions by Katy Buda, Gregory Sanders, and Cynthia R. Cook — August 1, 2024

Audio Briefs

NATO and the Arctic

An audio version of “NATO and the Arctic,” a new commentary by Commander Rachael Gosnell and CSIS’s Benjamin Jensen. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs.

Podcast Episode by Commander Rachael Gosnell and Benjamin Jensen — July 16, 2024

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