The insightful articles, inspiring narrations and analytical perspectives presented by the Editorial Team, establish an alluring connect with the reader. My compliments and best wishes to SP Guide Publications.
"Over the past 60 years, the growth of SP Guide Publications has mirrored the rising stature of Indian Navy. Its well-researched and informative magazines on Defence and Aerospace sector have served to shape an educated opinion of our military personnel, policy makers and the public alike. I wish SP's Publication team continued success, fair winds and following seas in all future endeavour!"
Since, its inception in 1964, SP Guide Publications has consistently demonstrated commitment to high-quality journalism in the aerospace and defence sectors, earning a well-deserved reputation as Asia's largest media house in this domain. I wish SP Guide Publications continued success in its pursuit of excellence.
India's Nordic outreach signals a deeper strategic play in the rapidly evolving Arctic geopolitical arena
 |
The Author is former Chief of Staff of a frontline Corps in the North East and a former helicopter pilot. He earlier headed the China & neighbourhood desk at the Defence Intelligence Agency. He retired in July 2020 and held the appointment of Addl DG Information Systems at Army HQ. |
A packet of 'Melody' chocolates stole the show! The chemistry between Prime Minister Modi and the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni went viral on the net. Just to recall, Prime Minister Meloni was first to coin the word 'Melodi' combining Meloni and Modi in a hashtag used in 2023 to show the deeper ties between the two leaders and the two nations. Modi has now given a taste to the 'special strategic partnership' by presenting the packet of 'Melody' toffees to Meloni. Deals signed on defence industrial roadmap and critical minerals took a back-stage.
India and the Nordic nations of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden, and Norway decided to elevate their relationship to a Green Technology and Innovation Strategic Partnership
Home to the second largest Indian diaspora in Europe after the UK, Italy grabbed the limelight no doubt. Prime Minister Modi landed in Italy after concluding a vital tour to another part of the globe that perhaps deserves far more attention and interest, especially in the geostrategic arena. Modi visited Norway on May 18, 2026, the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister in more than 40 years to attend the 3rd India-Nordic Summit which he was slated to attend last year May but got postponed due to the Pahalgam attack and the subsequent retribution by India through Op Sindoor.
There has been increased interest in Greenland's natural resources, including mining for rare earth minerals, uranium and iron
India and the Nordic nations of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden, and Norway decided to elevate their relationship to a Green Technology and Innovation Strategic Partnership on May 19, 2026 focusing on clean energy, sustainability, innovation, emerging technologies, fisheries, geothermal energy and carbon capture and storage. But beyond the official agenda, the leaders must have surely discussed in pull-asides, fire-side chats and in banquets, the most interesting and consequential, if a little quixotic development concerning the region, President Trump's quest to grab Greenland, an autonomous or self-governing territory of Denmark. The events of aggressive regime change operations by the US in Venezuela in January 2026 and the failed one in Iran since February 26, 2026 and the threat to effect one in Cuba next has once again put the spotlight on Greenland. It should, therefore, come as no surprise that Denmark Prime Minister called India 'one of the biggest powers' at the Nordic Summit and flagged changing old world order, hedging her baits.
In recent years, there has been increased interest in Greenland's natural resources, including mining for rare earth minerals, uranium and iron. It's endowed with the eighth largest reserves of so-called rare earth elements, which are vital for making everything from mobile phones to batteries and electric motors. It also has large amounts of other key metals, such as lithium and cobalt. There is oil and gas too, but new drilling is banned, while deep-sea mining has also been ruled out.
The Arctic melting open up a whole new chapter in global geopolitics as it will mean newer and shorter routes for shipping and airlines, extraction of its rich rare earths and mineral wealth, potential for fishing and above all, as a sphere for military deployments
That is one reason why India has also thrown in its hat in the ring. The Arctic ice has been melting at a rapid pace especially in the past two decades due to emission of greenhouse gases and deposits of black smoke emissions from bunker fuel used by ships that traps heat. The Arctic melting open up a whole new chapter in global geopolitics as it will mean newer and shorter routes for shipping and airlines, extraction of its rich rare earths and mineral wealth, potential for fishing and above all, as a sphere for military deployments. The competition is heating up though Russia is the most consequential power in the region, having invested early and heavily apart from the fact that nearly 2.3 million of the total 4 million people that inhabit the Arctic region are Russian.
Though not an Arctic country, India has ambition to be a significant player in the Arctic region. In 2013, India got an observer status in the Arctic Council which was created in 1996. With eight members, viz. Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and United States, the Council is mandated to promote various levels of cooperation, coordination among the Arctic States, indigenous communities and other Arctic inhabitants to discuss and resolve issues on sustainable development and environmental protection in the Arctic. Interestingly, the US was not an Arctic country till 1867 when it purchased Alaska from the Russian Empire for a princely sum of $7.2 million. Trump is on a similar mission.
In a related development, last year Russia awarded a contract to India to construct four non-nuclear icebreaker ships. This decision positions India as a key player in Arctic affairs
India has moved its pawns carefully on the geopolitical chessboard of the Arctic. It cannot compete with China in terms of deploy-able financial resources or in the fields of infrastructure engineering or mineral extraction. What India banks on is its carefully nurtured relationship with the big players of the Arctic. India has an enduring strategic relationship with the biggest Arctic power Russia which makes up 53 per cent of the total Arctic coastline. In a related development, last year Russia awarded a contract to India to construct four non-nuclear icebreaker ships. This decision positions India as a key player in Arctic affairs. Estimated to cost around $750 million, Russia chose India over China possibly due to the potential to utilise funds idling in Indian Rupee Vostro account related to payments for discounted oil imports from Russia in INR since the breakout of Ukraine war.
The stage for close India-Nordic relationship was set nearly five years earlier, when the visiting Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen had heaped gushing praise on Prime Minister Modi in October 2021 during a state visit remarking that while Denmark has the skills, India has the scales. Small Scandinavian countries like Denmark have niche technologies which helps them punch well above their weight. Finland gave the world Nokia, Linux open-source operating system, Kone lifts, Liquorice and is famous for being the world's happiest nation. Sweden has Ericsson, Ikea, H&M, and Volvo. Indians with long memories will of course remember the Bofors guns that literally delivered us victory in the Kargil operations in 1999. Norway, a major oil producer, also lends a hand in giving away the Nobel Peace prize apart from having given us the everyday use paperclips and aerosol spray cans. Remarkable achievements from a region whose total population is under 21 million, two third the size of Delhi.
The global energy crisis triggered by the Iran war leading to closure of the Hurmuz Strait by Iran since March 8, 2026 and counter blockade by the US Navy has made countries scramble to find alternate oil and gas sources and trading routes. The melting Arctic with rich oil, gas, and mineral reserves also open up a vital shipping route once necessary infrastructure is put in place. India is taking definite and vital steps to warm up to the icy Arctic blast.
