By SOFREP,
The Arctic is quickly becoming the latest frontier for geopolitical tensions, and two key players — China and Russia — are forging a new partnership to establish their dominance in the region.
Recent reports highlight a growing cooperation between these two nations, and the implications for the US and its allies are significant.
The Arctic Patrol: A New Chapter in China-Russia Cooperation
On October 2, China’s Coast Guard fleet entered the Arctic Sea for the first time to conduct a joint patrol with Russia, a Chinese-state media reported.
The arrival of the Chinese vessel Meishan coincided with both the 75th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China and the 75th anniversary of China-Russia diplomatic relations.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you probably already know that this isn’t the first time the two nations have worked together in such a way, but it’s a major step in their deepening Arctic partnership.
In fact, this joint patrol followed similar operations in the northern Pacific Ocean, which have been ongoing since September 21, Reuters reported.
Why are China and Russia interested in the Arctic? Well, as global warming shrinks the Arctic ice caps, new shipping routes are opening up. These shorter Arctic routes between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans offer a quicker and more efficient way to transport goods.
However, these routes are still tough to navigate, often requiring the help of icebreakers to get vessels through Russia’s northern coast.
With the West’s sanctions pushing Russia to look for new markets, China has stepped in, helping to develop these Arctic shipping lanes and increase trade — particularly in oil and gas.
A Growing Alliance: China and Russia’s Arctic Strategy
This recent patrol is just one piece of a larger puzzle of growing cooperation between China and Russia. Again, both countries see the Arctic as a critical area for their future trade and military strategy.
For Russia, the Arctic is key to its economic and military power, as it holds important shipping lanes and vast energy resources. Meanwhile, China, despite being geographically far from the Arctic, sees the region as a shortcut to Europe, avoiding the heavily trafficked and vulnerable Strait of Malacca.
China’s participation in Arctic development is part of its broader “Polar Silk Road” initiative, which aims to create a reliable trade route through the Arctic. For Russia, which has long maintained an active presence in the region with its extensive fleet of icebreakers and military bases, China’s involvement offers both financial and logistical support.
But this growing partnership isn’t just about trade. The two countries are also aligning their military strategies in the region.
Chinese military capabilities, such as polar satellites and icebreakers, complement Russia’s own efforts to secure its Arctic coastline.
With Russia’s dense network of air defense systems and strategic submarine bases in the Arctic, this partnership enhances both nations’ abilities to project power in the region.
A History of Claims and Control
The Arctic has been a region of interest for many countries, but Russia has always viewed it as its own backyard.
With a coastline stretching from the Barents Sea to the Bering Strait, Russia has long laid claim to large swaths of Arctic territory.
Since the 2014 invasion of Crimea, Russia has ramped up its efforts to militarize the Arctic, constructing new bases, deploying ground forces, and building out its air defense systems.
Russia’s strategy is simple: control access to the Arctic, protect its submarine fleet and keep its vital northern shipping lanes open year-round. And with China’s help, it is doing just that.
The US Response: Interception Over Alaska and General CQ Brown’s Warnings
Naturally, this growing China-Russia cooperation has raised alarm bells in the US and among its Arctic allies.
In July this year, American fighter jets intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers in the US Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) over Alaska. This unprecedented move underscored the increasingly assertive partnership between Beijing and Moscow.
The US military is taking this partnership very seriously. General CQ Brown, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, recently expressed his concerns over the expanding cooperation between China and Russia in the Arctic.
He emphasized that their joint operations in the region are something the US and its allies need to monitor closely, USNI News reported on Wednesday, October 9. Brown questioned whether this cooperation is meant for a positive collective benefit or to challenge other nations’ interests in the region.
“We’re seeing more and more activity where Russia and [the] PRC are working together, and the Arctic is the most recent area where we’re seeing that,” Brown said. “It’s something we all need to be paying attention to.”
What’s Next in the Arctic?
The US has recognized the importance of the Arctic, but it may be playing catch-up.
A 2024 Pentagon Arctic strategy outlined plans to deter Russia and China’s “malign activities” in the region, but with Russia’s significant military presence and China’s growing influence, it’s clear that the two nations are already far ahead in their Arctic ambitions.
“The Arctic region of the United States is critical to the defense of our homeland, the protection of US national sovereignty and the preservation of our defense treaty commitments. Our Arctic strategy will guide the department’s efforts to ensure that the Arctic remains a secure and stable region.”
—Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks said during a press briefing at the Pentagon in July.
The US and its Arctic allies, including Canada, Denmark, and Norway, are working to build up their capabilities in the region, but they face significant challenges in balancing these efforts with other defense priorities.
Final Thoughts
The growing cooperation between China and Russia in the Arctic marks a significant shift in the geopolitical landscape. As the Arctic becomes more accessible due to climate change, it is clear that both nations are positioning themselves to dominate this emerging frontier. While the US and its allies are beginning to recognize the importance of the Arctic, the deepening partnership between China and Russia is a reminder that the battle for influence in the region is just heating up.
As trade routes open and military postures solidify, the Arctic may soon become a hotspot for global power struggles — and the US needs to stay alert if it wants to keep pace.
