By Mohd Khairul Ramli
The Arctic, once dismissed as an inaccessible and icy expanse is swiftly emerging as one of the world’s most significant geopolitical arenas. Accelerated ice melting due to climate change has unveiled new maritime pathways and access to untapped reserves of natural resources, sparking intense competition among global powers. The United States, Russia, and China are racing to secure influence in this region with each motivated by a mix of strategic, economic, and military interests. For a tropical nation like Malaysia, the Arctic’s developments may appear peripheral. However, the shifting currents of power structures and global trade routes bring the Arctic closer to home than ever imagined.