Looking North: the UK and the Arctic
This document sets out the UK government's approach to the Arctic, and provides an update to the UK Arctic policy framework.
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This document brings together all the UK’s policies and strategies relating to the Arctic under a single, integrated framework, in line with the Integrated Review. It builds in the Ministry of Defence paper The UK’s Defence Contribution in the High North published in March 2022. It outlines the full range of UK interests in the region, and sets out the long-term priorities and objectives which shape our engagement and actions on the Arctic.
This new framework aims to represent evolution, rather than revolution, in the UK’s approach to the Arctic. It covers our longstanding interests in the region, particularly at a time of heightened tension there, with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and growing competition from China. Our approach will remain dynamic, responsive to changes in the Arctic region and across the world.
Our long-term strategic objective remains for the Arctic to be a peaceful and stable region, characterised by cooperation. The framework reiterates that the UK will remain an active, influential and reliable partner in the Arctic.
In doing so, the UK will focus activity across 4 priority areas:
- partnering and collaborating
- protecting the climate, people and environment
- preserving security and stability
- promoting our shared prosperity
Through this framework, the UK will take a whole-of-government approach to the Arctic. We will draw on the
- diplomatic excellence of our diplomatic missions across the region
- defence capabilities of the UK’s armed forces
- world-class scientific expertise of the UK Arctic research community
We will work with our partners and Allies to help maintain the Arctic as a place that is safe, secure, peaceful, and well-governed, protecting its environment and the communities that live there.
You can also read the 2013 UK Arctic policy framework: Adapting To Change: UK policy towards the Arctic and the 2018 update: Beyond the ice: UK policy towards the Arctic.