Polar War: Submarines, Spies and the Struggle for Power in a Melting Arctic: THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

by Kenneth R. Rosen

'This is a proper piece of journalism. It's a fascinating book. I read it from start to finish in a single sitting' Alastair Campbell, THE REST IS POLITICS

'Anyone... wanting to understand the context of the US president's Greenland landgrab should buy POLAR WAR' THE TIMES

Russian spies. Sabotaged pipelines. Undersea communications severed in the dead of night. Tensions are building at the top of the world.

The Arctic stands at the crossroads of geopolitical ambition and environmental catastrophe. President Trump's threats to seize Greenland reveal a regional context where fast-moving climate change is opening up new trade routes, untapped natural resources and long-frozen biological weapons. Award-winning commentator Kenneth R. Rosen draws on first-hand reportage and testimony to document the race to control this strategically crucial territory. Can America, which since the 1990s has lagged behind on infrastructure, really reimpose its might against the superior technology and strategic engagement of Russia and China? Above the Arctic Circle, the world's superpowers stand on the brink of a new cold war - and every day it grows hotter.

Timely and incisive, Polar War is an indispensable account of the interests, landscapes and people that define the world's most extreme frontier.

'This reporting is indispensable' FINANCIAL TIMES
'A wake up call to the West' JONATHAN BEALE, BBC Defence Correspondent

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, History, China, Russia, Science, Political Science

318 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 22, 2026

About the author

Kenneth R. Rosen has written for the New Yorker, the New York Times Magazine, VQR, and the Atlantic. He spent seven years at the New York Times, his hometown newspaper, and now divides his time between northern Italy and Massachusetts.

Reviews

[Oscar Leigh-Hales · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rosen has clearly done his research! It is clear that in this current geopolitical climate the US is not equipped to operate successfully in the Arctic.
Very topical and ironic considering Trump’s lust for Greenland.
I am left thinking perhaps Russia wants a war in the Arctic as they are so much more prepared. Definitely food for thought.
The 3 stars comes from my inability to enjoy the read of this book. I felt Rosen could have written this better as often it felt very jumpy without a clear structure.
That being said, if you want to learn Arctic geopolitics then this is the book for you.

[Cody · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC

I'd like to thank Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read "Polar War" early in return for an honest review.

Finding the intersections between climate change and global tensions within the arctic is a vastly interesting topic. This book takes an examination at the relations between the two, highlighting the author's personal experiences and historic examples of tensions in the area. As intriguing as this topic is, Rosen, unfortunately, tells it in a very dry, matter-of-fact way, which makes it quite difficult to sit down and enjoy. His personal anecdotes make the read feel like it has life, but the second he begins to dive into any other related topic, it becomes quite difficult to commit to finishing. Each chapter has a very broad topic of discussion, which leads to a lot of jumping around within the chapters, and as someone who doesn't have the biggest background within these topics, I found it difficult to follow along with where he was going. As I said, this is a very interesting topic, I just found this to be a bit of a difficult read, as it read more as a textbook, which did teach me new things, it just took a while to actually get to the meat of the topics.

Be sure to check this book out when it is published on January 5, 2026.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This riveting book about the changing Arctic and its growing importance is part history, part political treatise, part environmental primer, and part a lyrical travelogue. It also is a paean to the Arctic's wild and as yet untouched areas, and its star-filled (and increasingly, Starlink-filled) skies.

Rosen dismisses Trump’s obvious canard that “climate change is a hoax” and instead focuses on how (other) nations across the globe acknowledge the warming planet.

[Note: On December 16, 2025, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported: "The Arctic last season was the hottest it has been in the past 125 years. The extent of sea ice during its usual maximum in March was the lowest in 47 years of satellite recordkeeping. The North American tundra was more green with plant life than ever recorded.”]

Rosen sets the stage for his tour of the region by defining the parameters of “the Arctic” and pointing out that the Arctic is warming four to five times faster than the rest of the world. He explains thermohaline circulation, the process by which salt and water temperatures are dispersed throughout the world’s oceans, and provides examples of what climate-related changes have already occurred in Arctic countries. He notes that each year, the planet permanently loses a section of sea ice the size of Nebraska, and what that means for global temperatures.

Many nations regard the Arctic, with its increasing accessibility thanks to melting, as presenting an opportunity for expansion and the establishment of military dominance.

[Trump is not totally oblivious to the value of the Arctic, as shown by his stated intention to “to make Greenland a part of the U.S.” Greenland has rare earth minerals, vital to high-tech industries. This asset has attracted the interest of top officials in the Trump administration, who see an opportunity for - frankly - plunder. As Brian Kilmeade recently said on Fox, "Look, we are going to need their natural resources to mine them . . . But in the meantime, we have to expand our bases there and access to the waterways, because the arctic is melting and we need access there. Russia and China is (sic) trying to dominate.” And Trump's top aide Stephen Miller asserted (after the Venezuela invasion) that Greenland "rightfully" belonged to the United States and that the Trump administration could seize the semiautonomous Danish territory if it wanted, because "We live in a world, in the real world . . . that is governed by strength, that is governed by force, that is governed by power."]

Drawing on interviews with more than 400 individuals and from having embedded himself in a number of Arctic operations, Rosen found serious mismanagement by the US in its half-hearted attempts to pierce the new “ice curtain” in the Arctic. Furthermore, “the Trump Administration’s egregious campaign to ‘get’ and ‘secure’ Greenland” managed to alienate all concerned parties: “America has not gracefully risen to meet the occasion.”

Rather, Rosen reports, US troops sent to train in and patrol the area have to deal with infrastructure dating from the Cold War that is now crumbing as the permafrost melts; a lack of suitable equipment that can withstand the frigid temperatures; chronic underfunding; and low morale combined with a high suicide rate.

[In October, 2025, the US contracted with Finland to build new icebreakers to be purchased for the Coast Guard. Simultaneously, it undermined a long-planned change by the International Maritime Organization to force ships to start paying fees for the greenhouse gases their vessels inevitably emit which damage the climate. (US officials were accused of “bullying” and “intimidation”, as the UK Guardian reported. Specifically, "The US threatened countries, and individual officials, with tariffs, penalties and visa revocations if they supported the pricing mechanism.")]

Other countries have stepped up their commitment. In fact, Rosen points out, some in the Arctic even characterize this as a “pre-war” period.

Rosen ends with a “to-do” list for the U.S. to meet the moment, but it clearly would call for a different Administration to accept the need for, much less endeavor to accomplish, any of his proposed action items.

Evaluation: Fascinating and highly recommended.

Rating: 4.5/5

[William de_Rham · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Polar War” is a good choice for readers who are somewhat familiar with the Arctic and its issues. It would not be a good choice for those seeking a simple introduction to the region.

I had positive and not-so-positive reactions to various aspects of the book.

To begin with the positive, author Kenneth R. Rosen’s research is thorough. He covers a wide range of topics affecting the region, including:

its geography, topography, oceanography, climate, and some of its history;

the aims, policies, and missteps of various stakeholder nations, including the United States, Canada, Russia, China, and the Scandinavian countries;

how climate change has impacted and continues to impact the region;

the region’s importance to the earth as a harbinger, and affecter, of its future;

how, as global warming melts ice and snow, the region’s strategic value increases due to newly available natural resources and shipping lanes;

military incursions by Russia and China into territories that are not theirs, including Alaska;

how war is likely to be fought in, and over, the region; and

how ill-prepared and ill-equipped the United States might currently be for such a war; and what the US is doing and needs to do in Alaska.

Mr. Rosen’s research extends far beyond desk and library. As the text makes clear, he has spent significant time at multiple Arctic venues, talking with a wide variety of Arctic residents (both native and transplanted) and professionals, including politicians, policymakers, scientists, corporate executives, and military personnel.

As a result of all this work and study, Mr. Rosen has given us a book that is chock-a-block full of information. For me, it was a good learning experience.

However, I found the writing, editing, and organization of the book somewhat problematic. Organization-wise, “Polar War” seemed scattershot and diffuse—difficult to get a handle on. While there are 19 separate chapters, I had trouble discerning an organizing scheme or principle dictating why information belonged in a particular chapter. Often, “Polar” seemed more a random collection of articles than a well-structured treatise. This often led to a repetition of previously stated points. When combined with some of Mr. Rosen’s efforts at soaring literary prose, the book seemed frequently to lose focus. Many times, I wondered why I was reading what I was reading.

Also, the writing can be quite political (although that’s not necessarily a detriment). Mr. Rosen has strong opinions and is not shy about expressing them. To his credit, while he writes from a progressive point of view, he does not use “Polar” as a soap-box for a slate of progressive policies. Instead, it seemed to me that he is advocating for the Arctic and the people who live there. No matter the government—be it American, Russian, Chinese, or Scandinavian—he is critical of its policies. And he criticizes both Republican and Democrat administrations.

However, also to his credit, he includes an appendix intended for Washington policy makers suggesting steps that need to be taken to protect America’s interests in this region as a whole and in Alaska.

Bottom line: Mr. Rosen has given us a book that tells much about the Arctic, why it’s important, and why, if we ignore it, we do so at our own peril.

[Nancy Yager · Rating 2 out of 5]

From the title Polar War: Submarines, Spies, and the Struggle for Power in a Melting Arctic, I went in expecting something closer to a narrative-style nonfiction book: real-life stories, vivid scenes, maybe a blend of history and almost thriller-like storytelling set in a fascinating, remote region. Instead, what I found felt much more like a heavily political and critical overview of the Arctic as a contested space.

The book does cover important topics—geopolitics, climate change, military strategy, and the race for influence in a rapidly changing environment. But for me, the tone came across as consistently negative in how it framed the region and its future. I wasn’t bothered by the climate change discussion itself; that’s obviously central to any serious examination of the Arctic. What didn’t work for me was the way the overall narrative seemed to lean so hard into the bleakness and political angle that it drowned out the sense of place and the human stories I was hoping for.

Based on the description, I expected more of a “story” about submarines, spies, and specific people on the ground (and under the water), maybe through case studies or narrative arcs I could follow.
Instead, the book felt more like a broad, somewhat pessimistic survey. I kept waiting to be pulled into something more personal or immersive—local communities, historical moments, individuals whose lives intersect with this conflict—but those kinds of elements felt limited or overshadowed by the big-picture commentary.

Because of that, the book felt like a missed opportunity. The Arctic is an incredibly interesting and complex region, rich with culture, history, and real human stakes behind the politics. I believe there are so many stories waiting to be told there—stories that could have balanced the necessary warnings about climate and power struggles with nuance, complexity, and maybe even some hope or curiosity. Instead, the focus stayed so firmly on the darker, geopolitical aspects that it became a bit of a slog for me as a reader.

Readers who primarily want a political and strategic overview of the Arctic might get more out of this than I did. But if you’re looking for a narrative-driven exploration of submarines, espionage, and life in a changing polar world, this may not scratch that itch. For me, the tone and approach just didn’t match what I was expecting, and I came away more disappointed than informed or inspired. However, Rosen has peeked my curiosity about the region, I will seek further information about the Arctic. There has to be something good to say.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the advance copy.

[Brendan (History Nerds United) · Rating 3 out of 5]

We have another problem with titles and subtitles. Polar War: Submarines, Spies, and the Struggle for Power in a Melting Arctic by Kenneth Rosen is another book where expectations are set but not met. In fact, if they just kept the subtitle to "The Struggle for the Melting Arctic" then it would have been much more accurate. Spies, for instance, probably only come up for about 10 pages total.

The most accurate subtitle, however, would be "How America is Falling Behind in the Race for the Arctic." Rosen's narrative is mainly about how the U.S. Government is falling hopelessly behind in strategically placing themselves in the Arctic. This is more akin to a political position paper. I don't ding books for titles because often the author loses control on that front. Rosen's book is a letdown because of two things.

First, it is just generally negative. It is part travelogue. Usually, an author who gets to travel to exotic places will give the reader a sense of the beauty and otherworldliness (I think I made up that word but you get it) of the surroundings. Rosen seems to present each locale as a problem to be solved or a place he is forced to travel to. Yes, these are forbidding places, but I'd love to know more because they are so unique.

Second, and more importantly, Rosen doesn't hit on the "why" the reader should care about his thesis. He completely sold me that the U.S. is falling behind in the Arctic, and he clearly shows who is taking it more seriously like Russia and China. However, I kept wondering what are the specific reasons we should be worried about other powers and their focus on the area. Rosen doesn't completely skip this, but his explanations are precious little of the page count. And yes, I believe if you are writing something like this you need to be specific about the why even if it might be self-evident.

If you are a policy wonk, this may be a good choice for you. Those who want to get lost in the Arctic, are looking for historical adventure, or just want a fun jaunt will need to look elsewhere.

(This book was provided as an advance reader copy by Simon & Schuster.)

[Tobi B. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, I'm a little disappointed. I wanted to read the book because it was recommended on a political podcast as a good way to read up on the current situation surrounding Greenland and the US's claims. While the book is super informative and dives deep into complex issues and discussions surrounding the Arctic, it's also quite jumpy and dry. Especially in the beginning, the narration often jumps between places, people and facts. Without prior knowledge of the Arctic region, I got lost several times. A lot of the people mentioned are not super memorable, since there are just too many names to really keep track. While factual information didn't feel as dry as a textbook, it still got quite complex quite fast. Again, a large part of the issue for me came from names of institutions and where to place them. Unfortunately, there are too many instances in which the narration is interrupted by a barrage of facts, keywords, names, places, and terms, and then continues with narration - which is/was oftentimes not very interesting and unmemorable in the first place.
In several instances, it is either good narration that is interrupted by (in my opinion) a suboptimal presentation of facts and additional information or well presented facts and information dragged out by semi-interesting narration. Nonetheless, there are also some well-developed stories that take the time to convey concrete information and send a particularly strong message while being memorable and enjoyable to read.
This book is probably a good choice for anyone already involved in Arctic politics and familiar with respective terminology and individuals. Without prior knowledge, I learned a lot, but the balance between information and narration didn't guide me as much as I would have liked and instead was off-putting in too many instances.

[Katy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started really well with a fascinating mix of journalistic reportage, history and politics and a very strong sense that the arctic region has its own culture, issues and challenges. I learnt a lot at the start and enjoyed the writing style and the mixture of fact and informality.

However as the book progressed I felt it was structured around stories that the author was able to access on his journeys rather than detailed discussions of the key issues.

It is a shame, this could have been a very strong book throughout, with firmer editorial oversight and higher quality technical inputs. Firstly, it needed detailed and dedicated chapters on Svalbard and Greenland as they both face unique challenges and have unique histories. Secondly, just one or two chapters on US naval activities and competencies (or lack of). Thirdly, one chapter on European/Russian border management. Fourth the book needed a second author with an academic or policy background in politics and defence to cover the broader regional geopolitical issues in greater detail and maintain an Arctic wide perspective. Some of the authors writing is just too flowery on key geopolitical issues.

The main thesis: that the US lacks funding, presence and readiness in the arctic context is made well, but repeated too many times. I do not think that many readers will be surprised to hear that American foreign policy and defence planning is not always well planned, well resourced or coherent. The American centric policy recommendations at the end are interesting but technocratic and lack the broader geopolitical scope, defence and coordination challenges that the Arctic clearly faces. They read like a last grasp for credibility after the final chapters of informal, journalistic storytelling.

[Ula Tardigrade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recently, we hear so much about the strategic importance of the Arctic, with Greenland as the most famous example. But what does it mean in practice, and what are particular countries doing about it? Kennet R. Rosen decided to find out.

“The consequences of militarization and a warming planet were barely a footnote in many nations’ global ambitions until about 2010 or so. Russia is leading the charge, with more military bases in the arctic, greater competency in cold-weather operations, and a fleet of icebreakers that dwarfs the maritime arctic fleets of every other nation. America and its allies have played catchup” - he summarized his observations at the end of this book. His opinions are based not only on extensive travels to all polar regions but also countless meetings and conversations with experts, scientists, military representatives and local people.

A very timely and informative book, must-read to anyone interested in geopolitics.

Thanks to the publisher, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

[Yvonne Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, that was quite a journey. The author spares no details in his account of what's happening in the Arctic as a result of climate change, not least because the world's most powerful countries are jostling to take advantage of the warming planet and all the minerals and other resources that will become accessible as the permafrost melts. Everywhere you turn, Russia, China, and the USA are facing off against each other to the point where a hot war in this cold place is looking more and more likely. The contrast between the beauty and inaccessibility of the Arctic as we know it and the future where it's very likely to become ground zero in the next global conflict is heartbreaking. The amount of information in the book is almost overwhelming, but it's something that people really need to know.

[David Booy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A genuinely excellent book outlining the nation states operating in the Arctic, their geopolitical objectives in the region, and their regional strategy (or lack thereof).

Rosen has travelled extensively in the region, and each chapter narrates an episode of these journeys, seamlessly intertwined with commentary on the history and politics of the chapter's subject matter. Predictably, many of these chapters cover military installations, capabilities, and manoeuvres, but other subject matter is covered as well, including climate change and mental health in the military.

This book comes at a critical juncture for the arctic, with a US administration that has taken a "challenging" approach to Arctic security. Read this extensive and highly readable work if you want to gain more insight into the forces at play in the high north.

[Richard Marney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointed on the whole.

On the one hand, the author’s personal observations provide a strong factual basis for the book. Additionally, the topic - that the shrinking polar icecap is more than just a significant environmental development, but a geopolitical one as well - warrants understanding in the current global context. However, the “scattershot” (to quote another reviewer) structure and combination of a travelogue and short story collection leaves the reader lost at times. The Appendix’s content addressing practical security initiatives to help limit conflict in the region is well crafted.

[Scriptor Ignotus]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hS0wF...

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook reviewed for Booklist.

[Mats Berglund · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting and well-researched book that can be recommended. Minus one star because it feels like it needs another rewrite, maybe rushed to be published when Greenland was in the news?