Frozen Out.

The article focuses on the historical and contemporary U.S. engagement with the Arctic, highlighting the region’s strategic, environmental, and geopolitical significance. It discusses the longstanding American ambivalence toward Alaska and the broader Arctic, noting that despite its purchase from Russia in 1867 and its critical role during the Cold War, the Arctic has not been central to U.S. national identity or policy until recently. The formation of the Arctic Council, an intergovernmental forum among Arctic nations, exemplifies efforts at peaceful multilateral cooperation, though recent geopolitical tensions, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and shifting U.S. priorities under the Trump administration, have strained these relations. The article also addresses Trump’s renewed interest in Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory, as part of a broader U.S. strategic focus on the Arctic amid increasing global competition. [Extracted from the article]