Arctic Security and Outer Space

• Published in: Scandinavian Journal of Military Studies
• Main Author: Michael Byers
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Scandinavian Military Studies 2020
• Subjects: arctic; space; security; international cooperation; international law; russia; nato; Military Science; U; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.31374/sjms.56; https://doaj.org/article/8663949441204e3abe7b7418c5cbe1e4

Journalists often portray the Arctic and Space as rife with economic competition, contested territorial claims, and impending conflicts. In actuality, there is extensive and ongoing cooperation between Russia and Western states in both regions. A number of factors common to the Arctic and to Space contribute to this ongoing cooperation, including ‘complex interdependence’ and widely agreed rules of international law. This article focuses on three further common factors: the ‘cold, dark, and dangerous’ character of the regions; the absence of substantial ‘weaponisation’; and the relative ease with which information about military activities may be gathered in the Arctic and Space, for instance through Space-based technologies. The latter factor enables Arctic and Space-faring states to avoid classic ‘security dilemmas’.