Sweden’s Approach to Arctic Policy: Balancing Economic Interests, Security Concerns, and Indigenous Rights

Abstract

This article evaluates Sweden’s Arctic policy approach, focusing on the country’s efforts to balance its economic interests, security concerns, and the rights of indigenous populations in the region. Sweden’s Arctic strategy prioritizes sustainable development, environmental protection, and collaboration with Arctic states and indigenous communities. However, the article highlights the challenges of balancing these different components of the policy in an overarching policy model. Analyzing various academic and policy sources, the article provides an outline of the Sweden’s security challenges and concerns in the region, including rising tensions between NATO countries and Russia and the potential for increased militarization and environmental harm; it also scrutinizes Sweden’s economic interests and the potential risks and benefits that are associated with economic development in the area. Drawing on analyses of security concerns and economic interests, the article emphasizes the need to take into account the perspectives and concerns of indigenous peoples in the region. Despite the identified tensions, Sweden’s regional strategy nevertheless represents the robust model for regional policy.

Keywords

• arctic policy
• economic interests
• security concerns
• indigenous rights