America in the Arctic: Foreign Policy and Competition in the Melting North

by Mary Thompson-Jones

As climate change accelerates, the Arctic has become a frontline of global competition. Melting ice, rising temperatures, and swelling seas have made remote regions at once newly accessible and rife with new dangers. Vladimir Putin’s Russia has embarked on a substantial military buildup in the Arctic, and China has also turned its attention northward. The United States, however, has only recently begun to reestablish its Arctic presence after many years of waning influence.

America in the Arctic offers a timely and compelling case for why the United States must deepen its commitment to a region threatened by climate change and geopolitical rivalry. Mary Thompson-Jones surveys past and present U.S. relations with the Arctic Canada, Iceland, Greenland, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Russia. She traces the history of the U.S. presence in the far north from the purchase of Alaska through the Cold War, arguing that lessons from the past should inform America’s relationships with its Arctic neighbors today. At its best, U.S. Arctic policy balanced security interests with residents’ needs and international cooperation on environmental and regional issues. In recent years, many policymakers scrambling to reassert U.S. leadership have framed their goals solely in security terms. Thompson-Jones argues that climate change now poses the greatest challenge, calling for a new approach that is inclusive of all the Arctic’s inhabitants. Bringing together national security expertise and historical insight, this book charts a course for American Arctic policy in a warming world.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction

344 pages, Hardcover

Published March 25, 2025

Reviews

[Blaine DeSantis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book!!!! Author Mary Thompson-Jones takes us on a country by country tour of those countries who are located in the Arctic Circle and gives us a historical perspective of how each country has handled things like climate change, economic development, loss of permafrost (created an anthrax crisis in one country due to reindeer), military preparedness, relations with the US, etc. She writes how much climate change has affected all the countries, (US, Canada, Iceland, Greenland, Finland, Sweden, Norway & Russia) as well as how both Russia and even non-Arctic countries (i.e. China) are now trying to use this Northern route for both trade and military. And in the past month Arctic security has come to the fore most every day and so the topic is so very relevant. One of the most important books I have read in a long while. the author points out issues the US needs to work on, and also how for decades we have ignored this area of the globe. I give this a hearty 5***** rating!

[Vic Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A timely and informative book. Books like Mary Thompson-Jones' "America in the Arctic" tend to age fast. This book, published in March of 2025 follows the story thru the end of the Biden administration and so does not cover the upheaval created by the current administration in the region.

Thompson-Jones covers a far more complex and tumultuous history of the Arctic Sea then most people, especially Americans, are aware of. For instance, Trump isn't the first American president to try to purchase Greenland. In telling the role of the Arctic in the history of the nations that border it, or are "Arctic Adjacent," Thompson-Jones lays out how each of those nations sees itself and its relationships with other Arctic nations.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has created a massive shift in how other nations now see the Arctic. Because the Northeast Passage (over Russia) is an easier route to navigate then the Northwest Passage (over Canada) and because Russia has invested far more than anyone else in constructing both military sites and navigational aides that route is the commercially more viable. But Russia's behavior in Europe has created a situation where most of the developed world wants nothing to do with a proposed Northeast Passage.

Climate change is a fact and few places on earth demonstrate that as well as the Arctic. Most of the ground is permafrost which creates huge problems and barriers to development on land. Its spongy nature as it melts make traditional construction of buildings, roads, railroads, etc., orders of magnitude more difficult and long term maintenance almost impossibly expensive.

The US has neglected this part of the world for decades. The US has only two functioning icebreakers, one of which was built in 1978. Our military is unprepared for operations in the Arctic with outdoor exposure time for US military personal limited to seven hours at a time. And because we've neglected shipbuilding for decades we've lost the knowledge and expertise in icebreaker technology. We have to depend on other countries expertise in icebreaker technology and construction methods. The US Navy's assessment of its future in the Arctic in a 2017 report was 17 pages long, half of which were pictures. Its conclusion was that the Arctic region was very cold and that all US Navy ships working in the region should carry a large supply of Louisville Slugger baseball bats for knocking ice off of ships.

Fortunately, the nations that surround the Arctic Sea are Western democracies. Except for Russia they seek a rules based, technocratic, and democratic system as the best way to manage conflicting interests in the region. Unfortunately, recent alarming developments in the US political realm have called this approach into question. With a growing distrust of the US, what once seemed pretty straight forward and solvable issues are now up in the air.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in how climate change is making real differences in how nations approach related problems. The Arctic will be where a newly anti-science and anti-cooperation administration in the US will show its hand most readily. Foreign policy nerds should also find much within these pages about how that is likely to play out. (hint: it's not good). Overall, an excellent and balanced "America in the Arctic" should be read by anyone who is trying to picture the world today and in the near and middle future.

[Rachel]

I read a few chapters of this book and learned some things. Sadly I found that, due to geopolitical changes, much of the book's content already seems somewhat outdated.

[Chad Manske · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary Thompson-Jones’ “America in the Arctic: Foreign Policy and Competition in the Melting North” is a timely and insightful exploration of the rapidly evolving geostrategic and environmental dynamics in the Arctic, and a clarion call for greater U.S. engagement in the region. Blending cultural-geographic analysis with national security insight, Thompson-Jones dismantles the myth of a peripheral Arctic, demonstrating how shifting ice, expanding access, and foreign ambitions—especially those of Russia and China—have made this region critical to the global balance of power. The book excels in country-by-country analysis, taking the reader from Alaska through Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Scandinavia, and finally Russia, illuminating each state’s unique Arctic history and strategic calculations. Thompson-Jones’ nuanced approach addresses not only military build-up and economic competition, but also the voices and challenges of indigenous populations, whose experiences and perspectives have often been marginalized in great power discourse. This focus on local realities grounds the discussion and underscores her call for a truly inclusive U.S. Arctic policy. Particularly compelling are her frank assessments of American neglect and capacity shortfalls, exemplified by the United States’ meager icebreaker fleet compared to Russia’s robust armada and even China’s growing presence. The book reveals that U.S. federal attention to the Arctic has been sporadic at best, leaving states like Alaska to fill gaps and adapt to climate-driven transformations largely on their own. Thompson-Jones does not shy away from the complex interplay of security, sovereignty, development, and cooperation in the Arctic. She advocates for international collaboration and warns that the cost of continued U.S. inattention will be steep as rivals vie for influence and resources in a thawing circumpolar world. Accessible and richly detailed, the book is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand how the melting North is reshaping international affairs—and why American policymakers must rethink their approach before it’s too late.

[Lachlan Finlayson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am grateful to NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. 

Subtitled ‘Foreign Policy and Competition in the Melting North”, this is an excellent book for anyone interested in the Arctic. The dramatic sub-title is perhaps not the best description for the contents of the book. The book, while addressing the sub-title, delivered much more to the reader about this region. The pre-publication description boasts “…a compelling case why the US must deepen its commitment to a region threatened by climate change and geopolitical rivalry.” I think the reader will make up their own mind on the ‘compelling’ description. This is a good book, perhaps not a great book; nevertheless it is worth reading for anyone wanting to learn about the Arctic Regions, the countries, their histories and the multiple issues they face today.

The author, a former journalist with significant experience as a US diplomat provides a concise history and current status of the Arctic countries and their near-Arctic neighbours, with respect to geography, sovereignty, culture, commerce and conflict as well as other relevant topics. This I found fascinating, learning a lot about the different cultures, the complex histories and international relationships. The book does an excellent job in these aspects, providing the reader with a good understanding of the past and how this shapes the views of Arctic inhabitants today. I particularly enjoyed reading about the journey to statehood of the Arctic Nations, not least the genesis of the current-day borders.

The chapters are largely written from a cultural-geographic perspective, beginning with the US and Canada, then moving to Europe and discussing Iceland, which only just makes it into the Arctic category thanks to a sliver of land within the Arctic Circle. Greenland is combined in a chapter with Denmark, Norway stands alone, Finland is discussed alongside Sweden. Russia comes last and due to its belligerent and aggressive actions over the last decade it stands apart from the other Arctic nations. A threat to stability while also being an important partner in many areas of shared-concern, albeit with different priorities and visions. These chapters are great reading, providing the multiple rich historical stories which form current views, perspective and visions.

No country stands alone regarding Arctic issues, and the important, indeed crucial international relationships, agreements and multiple collaborative initiatives are presented, explained and rightly encouraged. Of course other large and powerful countries and organisations play a role in the Arctic. China, NATO, the UN, the EU and other trans-national players see themselves as active participants in defining the future.

The books concluding chapters build upon the backgrounds provided by previous chapters, seeing the US as key to future stability in the region. Stability with respect to a warming climate as well as sovereignty, trade, defence, development and all the issues that are of concern to the peoples of the region. The US cannot do this alone. Indeed, given the multiple issues facing US today and its inattention to the Arctic over many years, it is questionable if Arctic stability will be maintained in the future. One particular example of the inattention has stayed with me since reading the book. The US has two ice-breakers. Made fifty years ago. Russia has abundant Arctic vessels. Even near-Arctic China has four. Tiny Finland has about a dozen.

The author urges collaboration and cooperation between Arctic Nations. And stresses the role of major international organisations and NGOs as also being crucial to the future. Although given the current military conflicts in the world today and of course Climate Change, one cannot help but note the failure of the International Community to provide solutions in a timely manner. One could perhaps be forgiven for being at least a little pessimistic about the future of the Arctic. Nevertheless, this book provides an excellent starting point for anyone to begin their understanding of the issues. I think this book deserves a wide readership. There really is something for everyone. From the casual reader curious about the Arctic to those from professional communities. Diplomats, scientists, military leaders, politicians, academics, journalists, business people, would all find something of value here.

I do have a some criticism of the book. The author makes her personal views clear on certain topics and whilst she is perfectly entitled to do so, I think there is a risk of alienating readers with such strident views, distracting from and adding little to the overall message of the book. For example, the author appears to fully embrace the initiatives from many in the West to prevent Climate Change. I think most people acknowledge mankind has some impact on the Earth’s climate. But, at risk of being labeled a ‘denier’, I would respectfully suggest there is still debate about the timeframe of change and whether we are facing what the author calls a “…nightmare scenario…” or perhaps something milder. And of course, the measures taken to avoid or mitigate Climate Change are very much not settled. In the West and certainly not in non-Western countries. To the authors credit she does discuss a natural oceanic phenomena which may cool significant areas in the Arctic. Interestingly this is presented gently as “…throwing a considerable wrinkle into climate change projections…”. A wrinkle versus a nightmare. It made me smile.

The other bias that emerges is a political, at times an almost anti-American tone. Those from the political Left are mostly presented in a favourable light while those from the Right are generally disparaged occasionally demonised, sometime labelled “…political appointees…”. In my view this is unnecessary and distracting.

Although these negative aspects are apparent in the initial chapters of the book, I would urge any reader not to be discouraged; perhaps to quietly sigh and continue reading. Abandoning the book early would be a mistake. This is a valuable book. Even a timely book. Providing a perspective from many peoples, many countries and from many cultural, economic, military and political viewpoints. All this adds to our understanding and appreciation of a unique part of the Earth, for not just the Arctic States, but for everyone.

I wish the author and her publishers all the very best with this well researched and engaging book.

[Shari · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this fascinating book, Mary Thompson-Jones argues that the US needs to pay more attention to the Arctic, which hasn't been a priority for quite some time. However, with the region warming at a rapid rate, attention will be required one way or another. She points out that if the region is ignored, a price will be paid, since other countries are not hesitating to try to claim territory, use it for economic and military purposes, and access resources. She states that, in the US, "Few people are fully aware of all that is happening in the Far North and fewer still understand the multiple ways these changes will affect their lives." (p 19) While the federal government is playing catch-up after years of neglect, some states are proactive and doing what they can on their own. Alaska, of course, being an Arctic state, is an obvious example, but there are others as well. She makes the case that people who haven't lived in the Arctic, do not understand the challenges and ways in which life is different there. Based on my own experience, she does a good job with this.

For me the real strength of the book, and what I found so interesting, was the history of the Arctic regions of each country she includes in the book. She begins with Alaska and moves east into Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Finland and Sweden, and Russia, with a chapter devoted to each. She provides a brief history of the people who lived in these regions and their history with the governments that claimed them, before describing the relationships the US has had with each one. She also describes the ways in which US Arctic policy has changed in recent years as there's been a recognition that this is a topic that cannot be ignored.

She strongly advocates for the inclusion of indigenous voices to be heard and needs met as US Arctic policy evolves.

This book--at least the review copy I read--was completed before the recent US election and as I read I was thinking about the ways in which things will deteriorate as a result.

This is a fascinating and highly readable book which I enjoyed very much, learned from, and highly recommend. I thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a digital review copy.

[kammie!!? · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Columbia University Press for this Arc. This did not influence my review.

I am the type of annoying person who just kind of hates America’s self centered ideals. In my opinion they just butt into too many things for me not to dislike them. However, I do understand that due to Alaska’s existence, they do in fact kind of have the right to have a say in Arctic politics.

Overall, this book was not offensive and I did learn some new things about the history of these nations. However there were many parts that I found boring because I already knew it and so it was not as exciting. I do recommend this book even if I didn’t get much out of it because I think it could be a great entry point for people interested in environmentalism and politics. It does a great job of explaining the importance of the Arctic regions to the world and also how politics and relationships between economy and the governments can influence people’s lives and the world.

[Matt Heavner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the book – if anything, I felt it was too short. The chapter organization was good and there were several interesting examples illustrating the evolving US interest in the Arctic. The integration of the examples and a more comprehensive (rather than anecdotal) view of the US in the Arctic could have been stronger – but it was good and I recommend it if you are interested in the US in Arctic (and who isn't?!?!? ;).

[Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

informative

This book is more than just about America in the arctic, in fact I found the chapters about Canada and Iceland very interesting and informative. Just this book for my strategy and planner friends, or anyone just interested in the north.

[Alex Helm · Rating 1 out of 5]

the USA does not and should not rule the world

[Arvind Vijh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the chapter about the Canadian Arctic.