Norway’s royals visit Svalbard amid Arctic power competition

Reuters

Norway's King Harald and Queen Sonja visited the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard on Monday, marking 100 years of Norwegian sovereignty amid growing global interest in the polar region.

King Harald’s trip coincides with the centennial of Norwegian sovereignty over the archipelago, situated between the North Pole and mainland Europe.

Svalbard is governed under a 1920 treaty allowing visa-free settlement for citizens of signatory countries and limits military use, though it’s not demilitarized. The archipelago has become a geopolitical hotspot due to its mineral-rich lands, potential shipping routes, and its proximity to Russian naval activity.

The visit comes a day after French President Emmanuel Macron’s trip to Greenland, signaling rising Western interest in Arctic affairs. Russia maintains two settlements in Svalbard, while China aims to develop a "Polar Silk Road" to diversify its maritime routes. Norway, as a NATO member, monitors vast North Atlantic waters that include Russia's nuclear submarine paths.

Tags