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4.3 Arctic geopolitics and the future of regional infrastructure: the case of subsea cables

  • Nima Khorrami and Andreas Raspotnik
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De Gruyter Handbook of Ocean Governance and Maritime Affairs
This chapter is in the book De Gruyter Handbook of Ocean Governance and Maritime Affairs

Abstract

The Arctic’s geopolitical significance is rising due to climate change and the strategic value of controlling data in digital economies, leading to intensified competition among the EU, China, the US, and Russia. Nations like Russia, the US, and Japan are racing to lay undersea communication cables in Arctic waters, driven by the need for secure, fast data transmission. Although laying cables in the Arctic is costly and challenging, the region offers shorter distances between Asia, Europe, and America, reducing communication time. This chapter explores the commercial and strategic consequences of this cable race regionally and globally. Regionally, it examines how competing projects could complicate Arctic maritime governance, especially with non-Arctic states becoming key players. Globally, it analyzes how this cable race fits into broader US–China and NATO–Russia techno-strategic rivalries, focusing on the normative, strategic, and economic implications of controlling these critical communication channels.

Abstract

The Arctic’s geopolitical significance is rising due to climate change and the strategic value of controlling data in digital economies, leading to intensified competition among the EU, China, the US, and Russia. Nations like Russia, the US, and Japan are racing to lay undersea communication cables in Arctic waters, driven by the need for secure, fast data transmission. Although laying cables in the Arctic is costly and challenging, the region offers shorter distances between Asia, Europe, and America, reducing communication time. This chapter explores the commercial and strategic consequences of this cable race regionally and globally. Regionally, it examines how competing projects could complicate Arctic maritime governance, especially with non-Arctic states becoming key players. Globally, it analyzes how this cable race fits into broader US–China and NATO–Russia techno-strategic rivalries, focusing on the normative, strategic, and economic implications of controlling these critical communication channels.

Chapters in this book

  1. Book introduction
  2. The oceans of the world – a source of shared development or rivalry for resources? 3
  3. Section 1
  4. The political economy of the ocean 13
  5. 1.1 Two Wars and a Pandemic: Global Shipping Markets in the Early-2020s 15
  6. 1.2 The state of world fisheries and fish farming 31
  7. 1.3 Shaping and framing deep seabed mining in the public interest: legitimacy, procedural justice, and distributive justice 45
  8. 1.4 The place of marine renewable energy in the ocean economy 63
  9. 1.5 Sustainable campus development and coastal ocean conservation in China’s Greater Bay Area: a higher education perspective 77
  10. Section 2
  11. Introduction: sustainability and the marine environment 91
  12. 2.1 A Green-Blue Economy? The case of offshore wind power 95
  13. 2.2 Ocean governance and climate change at the science-policy interface 115
  14. 2.3 Plastic never dies: finding a governance solution to the ubiquitous nature of microplastic pollution 129
  15. 2.4 The regulation of ABMTs under the BBNJ Agreement: potential contributions for the sustainable development of marine renewable energy technologies on the high seas 145
  16. 2.5 Risks and opportunities for the first green shipping corridor in the Arctic 161
  17. 2.6 Arctic shipping routes over the past 20 years 181
  18. Section 3
  19. Introduction: techno-economic development 197
  20. 3.1 Current status and future prospects of alternative fuel for ships 201
  21. 3.2 Decarbonization by wind propulsion for commercial ships 221
  22. 3.3 Wind ships in sustainable global supply chains: A future of Zero Carbon shipping 231
  23. 3.4 Digitalization and automation in the maritime industry: a case of sustainable development? 241
  24. 3.5 Carbon Capture and Storage: new opportunities for maritime clusters? 255
  25. 3.6 The freshwater-saltwater nexus: the ocean as a sustainable source of water? 271
  26. Section 4
  27. Introduction: Maritime infrastructure 287
  28. 4.1 Maritime hydrogen infrastructure and value chains in the decarbonization governance of shipping in Norway 289
  29. 4.2 North Sea grid integration: what’s there and what’s planned? 307
  30. 4.3 Arctic geopolitics and the future of regional infrastructure: the case of subsea cables 325
  31. 4.4 Canals: transport infrastructure and geopolitics 339
  32. 4.5 Between engineering and geopolitics: a study on island building as one kind of temaritime infrastructure 353
  33. 4.6 The ocean and the geopolitics of energy: a question of critical infrastructure? 379
  34. Section 5
  35. Introduction: ocean geopolitics 399
  36. 5.1 The global ocean and great power politics 401
  37. 5.2 Great powers and their naval ambitions: the geopolitical dimension of maritime affairs 415
  38. 5.3 Governing the ocean: technological change as a driver of maritime conflict 429
  39. 5.4 The politics of maritime boundary disputes 447
  40. 5.5 Could the unexploded ordnance hazard hinder the green energy transition − in the context of offshore wind projects? 467
  41. 5.6 The geopolitics of satellite navigation: the jamming and spoofing threat 485
  42. Book conclusions
  43. Cases in, along, across, below, on, and above the sea 501
  44. Subject Index
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783111195544-025

Chapters in this book

  1. Book introduction
  2. The oceans of the world – a source of shared development or rivalry for resources? 3
  3. Section 1
  4. The political economy of the ocean 13
  5. 1.1 Two Wars and a Pandemic: Global Shipping Markets in the Early-2020s 15
  6. 1.2 The state of world fisheries and fish farming 31
  7. 1.3 Shaping and framing deep seabed mining in the public interest: legitimacy, procedural justice, and distributive justice 45
  8. 1.4 The place of marine renewable energy in the ocean economy 63
  9. 1.5 Sustainable campus development and coastal ocean conservation in China’s Greater Bay Area: a higher education perspective 77
  10. Section 2
  11. Introduction: sustainability and the marine environment 91
  12. 2.1 A Green-Blue Economy? The case of offshore wind power 95
  13. 2.2 Ocean governance and climate change at the science-policy interface 115
  14. 2.3 Plastic never dies: finding a governance solution to the ubiquitous nature of microplastic pollution 129
  15. 2.4 The regulation of ABMTs under the BBNJ Agreement: potential contributions for the sustainable development of marine renewable energy technologies on the high seas 145
  16. 2.5 Risks and opportunities for the first green shipping corridor in the Arctic 161
  17. 2.6 Arctic shipping routes over the past 20 years 181
  18. Section 3
  19. Introduction: techno-economic development 197
  20. 3.1 Current status and future prospects of alternative fuel for ships 201
  21. 3.2 Decarbonization by wind propulsion for commercial ships 221
  22. 3.3 Wind ships in sustainable global supply chains: A future of Zero Carbon shipping 231
  23. 3.4 Digitalization and automation in the maritime industry: a case of sustainable development? 241
  24. 3.5 Carbon Capture and Storage: new opportunities for maritime clusters? 255
  25. 3.6 The freshwater-saltwater nexus: the ocean as a sustainable source of water? 271
  26. Section 4
  27. Introduction: Maritime infrastructure 287
  28. 4.1 Maritime hydrogen infrastructure and value chains in the decarbonization governance of shipping in Norway 289
  29. 4.2 North Sea grid integration: what’s there and what’s planned? 307
  30. 4.3 Arctic geopolitics and the future of regional infrastructure: the case of subsea cables 325
  31. 4.4 Canals: transport infrastructure and geopolitics 339
  32. 4.5 Between engineering and geopolitics: a study on island building as one kind of temaritime infrastructure 353
  33. 4.6 The ocean and the geopolitics of energy: a question of critical infrastructure? 379
  34. Section 5
  35. Introduction: ocean geopolitics 399
  36. 5.1 The global ocean and great power politics 401
  37. 5.2 Great powers and their naval ambitions: the geopolitical dimension of maritime affairs 415
  38. 5.3 Governing the ocean: technological change as a driver of maritime conflict 429
  39. 5.4 The politics of maritime boundary disputes 447
  40. 5.5 Could the unexploded ordnance hazard hinder the green energy transition − in the context of offshore wind projects? 467
  41. 5.6 The geopolitics of satellite navigation: the jamming and spoofing threat 485
  42. Book conclusions
  43. Cases in, along, across, below, on, and above the sea 501
  44. Subject Index
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