Amid Donald Trump’s high-profile remarks about the possible incorporation of Greenland, the Arctic has once again moved to the forefront of global politics. Yet, as CNN notes, the struggle for influence in the region has been underway for years. At this stage, it has a clear frontrunner: Russia, which has been steadily consolidating its position across several key dimensions.

Analysts estimate that Moscow controls roughly half of the Arctic’s total landmass and exclusive economic zone. These areas are home to about two-thirds of the region’s population. While the Arctic’s contribution to the global economy remains modest-around 0.4 percent-nearly two-thirds of its total gross product is generated within territories under Russian sovereignty.

The military dimension is equally significant. Monitoring data from Canada’s Simons Foundation indicate that the broader Arctic region hosts 66 military facilities, 30 of which are located in Russia. By comparison, NATO countries collectively operate 36 such sites in the Arctic.

Experts point out that Russia is advancing its Arctic strategy at an accelerated pace. Alongside the expansion of infrastructure, Moscow is upgrading radar networks, unmanned platforms, and missile capabilities, reinforcing its dominance in a region that is becoming increasingly central to global strategic competition.