Security and Defence in the Mediterranean and in the Arctic

The Mediterranean region, beyond its cultural and historical significance, holds profound contemporary geopolitical importance, especially in terms of security, encompassing geopolitical, social, and economic factors that significantly impact regional stability. International cooperation and strategic foresight are essential in this context, influencing not only regional actors such as the EU Member States but also the broader transatlantic alliance, including NATO. The Mediterranean's strategic location, energy resources, migration challenges, naval power dynamics, and transnational threats, such as organized crime, contribute to its geopolitical significance with far-reaching security implications for bordering nations. Simultaneously, geopolitical tensions and the competition for influence in the Arctic have intensified. Despite limited direct competition for resources, the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014 halted security cooperation with Russia, leading to increased military exercises and rhetoric about Western threats. The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 further strained relations between the West and Russia, including in the Arctic, halting cooperation even in non-security domains and leading to additional sanctions on Russia. This invasion has also highlighted increased Chinese engagement in Arctic issues and Sino-Russian collaboration, driven by "great power competition," a dynamic not limited to China but also involving actors like India, the EU, the UK, and the United States. Despite increased regional tensions and divisions between Russia and the other seven Arctic states, Arctic scholars and states emphasize the need for mutual cooperation in managing shared resources, addressing climate change, and ensuring the rights of indigenous peoples. Some hope that low-level collaboration on Arctic issues could provide a platform for re-engagement between the West and Russia if hostilities in Ukraine cease. These dynamics create a complex pattern of great power competition in the Arctic, with varying potential for conflict among Arctic and non-Arctic actors.