Disclaimer
The views expressed in all NAPF policy papers are solely those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the positions of the North Atlantic Policy Forum, its community, or the authors’ employers and affiliated organizations.
RESEARCH
COLLECTIONS
Each Research Collection gathers expert analysis around a single question facing the Atlantic community. Briefs are published over two weeks, building a layered view of one issue from contributors across the NAPF network.
COLLECTION 01
SPRING 2026
The Arctic
The Arctic is rapidly becoming a strategic theatre where alliance cohesion, resilience, and technological competition are increasingly being tested. Melting sea ice is opening new shipping routes and resource frontiers, Russia is rebuilding its Northern Fleet capabilities, and China continues to advance its ambitions as a “near-Arctic state.” NATO’s enlargement through Finland and Sweden has reshaped the regional balance, Indigenous communities are demanding a greater voice in the region's future, and Arctic observer states are deepening their engagement in Arctic affairs.
Bringing together researchers and organisations from across Europe and North America, NAPF's Arctic Research Collection explores the strategic, geopolitical, and environmental developments shaping the increasingly contested region. In addressing the multitude and complexity of the challenges facing the Arctic today, the collection seeks to contribute to under-explored dimensions of Arctic research and policy debate, offering policy recommendations for what must be done to ensure its long-term safety, security, and stability.
