The Arctic Railways – Strategic Arteries, Economic Interests and Political Constraints
The Arctic Railways – Strategic Arteries, Economic Interests and Political Constraints

Summary/Abstract: In the past, the Arctic region was under the attention of the international community only regarding the climate change problems. Over the last decade, the Circumpolar North was acknowledged as an area with commercial potential. In this regard, the paper describes how the region is changing rapidly in terms of the ongoing infrastructure projects in Finland, Norway and Sweden, and the investment initiatives of China. Within this framework, the research focuses on the Arctic railway problem, comparing two cases – the Germanbuilt Hyrynsalmi–Kuusamo Railway (1942–1944) and the ongoing project of the Kirkenes- Rovaniemi Line. Although all countries recognized the importance of common efforts and cooperation for sustainable use and exploration of the region, the increasing military activities in the zone only indicate the importance of maintaining the Arctic partnership and dialogue. For decades, the Nordic countries’ approaches towards neighboring Russia have balanced between caution and amity. In this context, the research compares the two timelines of militarization – the 1940s and the post-2018 period. Correspondingly, the study looks not only at the challenges in front of the Nordic countries, but also at the new geopolitical situation in this strategic area.

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