Mr Bipandeep Sharma is a Research Analyst at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi. Click here for detailed profile.
The Antarctic is emerging as a new space for geopolitical contestations. Politicisation of discussions during annual Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings and emerging aspirations of countries to dominate the region pose significant challenges to Antarctic governance. China’s expanding footsteps through its new research bases with dual-use critical infrastructures and its increasing interest in fishing and other Antarctic resources raise global concerns.
Research Analyst, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Mr Bipandeep Sharma’s chapter on 'India', has been included in the report ‘The Big Picture of Arctic Geopolitics: An actor oriented analysis’, edited by Iselin Németh Winther and Andreas Østhagen, and published by Fridtjof Nansen Institute, Oslo, Norway.
Research Analyst, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Mr Bipandeep Sharma’s article, ‘”Securitization of the Arctic” post Finland’s Accession to NATO”, has been published in Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), Moscow, on 24 May 2023.
Finland’s changed position of military neutrality in the Arctic, post its accession to NATO, is bound to trigger Russia’s reciprocatory response in the North that would escalate militarisation in the Arctic.
Given the ongoing geopolitical contestations and the current state of Norway’s relations with Russia, Norway may not be able to fully realise the ambitious agenda for its upcoming presidency of the Arctic Council.
Research Analyst, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Mr Bipandeep Sharma’s article ‘A Suspended Arctic Council: New Hope with Norway’s Chairmanship’, has been published in Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) Moscow on 02 March 2023.
The Ukraine crisis, shifting geopolitical alliances in the Indo-Pacific and Western-imposed economic sanctions on Russia have strengthened China–Russia cooperation in the Arctic.
India needs to strengthen its existing bilateral relations with all the Arctic countries and continue to re-emphasize its call for peaceful resolution of Arctic disputes.
The exit of Western oil companies from energy projects in the Russian Far East provides opportunities for India to enhance its stakes in these projects.
China’s 13th Arctic Expedition
Chinese scientists successfully carried out tasks at the North Pole onboard their first domestically built polar ice-breaker Xuelong 2.