Executive summary 

For years after the Cold War, the UK and its Arctic allies viewed the region as a low-tension “zone of peace.” However, Russia’s growing military presence since the early 2000s, combined with its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, ended most cooperation with Western Arctic states.

Since 2013, the British Government has published three Arctic Policy Frameworks that demonstrate the UK’s long-term commitment to safeguarding the Arctic’s stability. Specifically, these frameworks focus on fostering international cooperation as well as addressing the impacts of climate change on the region: Adapting to Change (2013), Beyond the Ice (2018), and Looking North (2023). Furthermore, the House of Lords is set to debate the report titled ‘Our Friends in the North: UK Strategy Towards the Arctic’, published by the International Relations and Defence Committee on 29 November 2023, during a session scheduled for 9 January 2025.