Arctic Governance Gap Widened by Climate Change and Rising Geopolitical Competition

Climate change is rapidly transforming the Arctic, with melting sea ice, thawing permafrost and new shipping routes exposing the region to heightened geopolitical rivalry among Russia, NATO members and China. The area also hosts critical military and nuclear infrastructure, creating a security risk that current governance structures fail to address; the Arctic Council excludes military matters, leaving a governance gap.

India’s upcoming BRICS presidency in 2026 is seen as an opportunity for the Global South to gain a stronger voice in Arctic affairs. New Delhi can bridge emerging economies with Arctic stakeholders, linking Arctic warming—four times the global average—to impacts on the Indian monsoon, Himalayan glaciers and extreme weather worldwide, thereby broadening the discussion beyond territorial and military concerns.