Glenn Diesen - Greater Eurasia Podcast Anatol Lieven: US-Russia-China Tensions in the Arctic
Sep 20, 2025
Anatol Lieven, Director of the Eurasia Program at the Quincy Institute and a former Georgetown professor, dives into the escalating geopolitical tensions in the Arctic. He highlights how climate change is transforming the region, creating new strategic challenges. The conversation touches on the collapse of Arctic exceptionalism, the militarization by NATO, and China's role in Arctic affairs. Lieven argues that while war is unlikely, the risks of climate-driven disasters pose a more immediate threat than geopolitical rivalries.
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Climate Change Drives Arctic Competition
- Arctic geopolitical competition rose after the Cold War as climate change opened shipping routes and resources.
- Anatol Lieven argues this change is driven by melted ice, not a new fundamental security threat between states.
Arctic Holds Major Climate Tipping Points
- The Arctic contains multiple climate tipping points that could trigger runaway warming with catastrophic global effects.
- Lieven warns these Arctic-driven feedbacks threaten civilization far more than regional military competition.
Reprioritize Climate In Security Strategies
- Prioritize climate threats in national security strategies rather than marginalizing them to footnotes.
- Lieven implies governments must treat Arctic climate risks as central security concerns, not side issues.
