New Italy Arctic policy adds U.S. Greenland ambitions to growing Arctic competition narrative

Arctic strategies from Canada to the U.S. to Finland have increasingly flagged Russia and China as drivers of a more competitive High North, but Italy’s new Arctic policy points to the U.S.’s Greenland ambitions as an added source of strain in a region sliding further toward rivalry.

“The Arctic Council’s crisis following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the militarisation of the region, the closer partnership between the Russian Federation and China – also within the Arctic context – the end of Sweden and Finland’s neutrality after their accession to NATO, and the U.S. stance on Greenland are among the main drivers of change,” Italy’s Arctic policy said.

The release of the strategy coincided with increasing rhetoric from U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday where he mused on increasing tariffs on countries refusing to support his ambition to control Greenland.

Both Denmark and Greenland have repeatedly rejected the administration’s designs on the island.

North must be kept “low tension” 

The policy document also notes the impact Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine had on cooperation within the Arctic Council, while stressing that Italy remains committed to supporting the forum.

The council brings together the eight Arctic nations — Canada, Denmark/Greenland, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United States — and was long held up as a model of post–Cold War international cooperation.

That forum was shaken after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, when much of the council’s work was suspended. The body has since resumed limited scientific and environmental cooperation, something Rome says it supports as essential to keeping the Arctic low-conflict.

“Italy regards the Arctic Council as the primary forum for international cooperation in the region and actively contributes to its work within the scope of its remit,” the policy said.

“The Council’s role is seen as essential in maintaining the Arctic as a region characterized by low tension and a high degree of cooperation.”

Economic and environmental opportunities

The strategy also points to economic opportunities for Italian companies and businesses as climate change opens access to Arctic resources and shipping routes.

Shipbuilding, energy and advanced technologies are seen as areas Italian firms could benefit, the document said, while underscoring the need for caution moving forward given the environmental sensitivity of the region and the need to respect Arctic and Indigenous communities.

Italy pointed to Greenland as an example, characterizing it as a location that will play a growing role in global supply chains, particularly as demand increases for critical minerals tied to the energy transition.

But it also notes that much of Greenland’s resource potential has yet to be confirmed, with high costs, environmental limits and logistical hurdles likely to keep large-scale projects moving slowly.

“Mineral resources in many cases still need to be verified through field exploration rather than relying solely on geological estimates,” the document said.

“Investments in the extractive sector in Greenland will initially develop slowly, due to high costs and environmental considerations, but are expected to grow in the medium term due to the substantial existing and yet-to-be-discovered resources.”

Italy also said it aims to strengthen ties with European Arctic countries — including Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden — both multilaterally and at the bilateral level, including on international security challenges in the North, while also deepening cooperation with North American Arctic partners including Canada.

Comments, tips or story ideas? Contact Eilís at eilis.quinn(at)cbc.ca 

elated stories from around the North: 

Canada: Carney says he spoke with China’s Xi about Greenland, Arctic sovereignty, The Canadian Press

Denmark: Analysis-Denmark sets a military tripwire. It’s a message to Trump more than Russia or China, CBC News

Finland: Finland preparing to send two liaison officers to Greenland, Yle News

Greenland: ‘No such thing as a better colonizer’: Inuit emphatically reject U.S. takeover of Greenland, CBC News

Iceland: NATO chief to Arctic Allies: “We’re all frontline states now,” as Iceland’s role grows, Eye on the Arctic

Norway: “We want to be Europe’s most integrated region in terms of defence”, The Independent Barents Observer

Russia: Russia claims first-ever North Pole aerial refuelling, TASS reports, Reuters

Sweden: Swedish military to Greenland ahead of exercise, Radio Sweden

United States: Alaska’s Murkowski wants to reassure Denmark, but it’s not clear Congress is with her, CBC News