Under international law, the North Pole and the Arctic waters surrounding it are not owned by any country. But this January, President Donald Trump announced his plans to buy the Arctic territory of Greenland, testing the claims of rivals and opening up a greater conversation around who governs the Arctic Circle. On top of these icy tensions, the North Pole is warming. Melting ice caps are opening up new shipping routes and making the region increasingly mineable, generating even more interest from leaders around the world.

This episode was originally released on March 29, 2023.

Featured Guests

Esther Brimmer, James H. Binger Senior Fellow in Global Governance

Jeff Randall, Military Fellow, U.S. Coast Guard

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/whats-cracking-arctic