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Why Putin and Xi want to control the Arctic

October 20, 2026 · 18 min

Show notes

Europe’s leaders are joining the fight for the Far North – but is it already too late?

The European Union has announced a new security strategy for the Arctic. Yet Russia and China already appear to have a huge advantage in the region.

Moscow is exploring new trade routes through its shadow fleet, and – with Beijing’s help – the race is on to exploit the Arctic’s reserves of rare earth minerals.

Will the UK, US and Canada join Europe’s belated response? Or, as the ice melts, is too late to stop a new cold war from heating up?

Gareth Barlow speaks to Sky’s military analyst, Robert Clark.

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