In a recent interview to Anders Fogh Rasmussen released by bigthink.com, the ex-NATO Secretary General has briefly discussed rising tensions in the Arctic region due mainly to the effects of climate change.
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, that served as Prime Minister of Denmark from 27 November 2001 to 5 April 2009 and was the 12th Secretary General of NATO from 2009 to 2014, agreed with the Icelandic President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson (see the interview with President Grímsson here) about rising potential tensions in the Arctic as consequence of climate change. Accordingly to the Danish politician, there is no doubt that climate change will have a major impact on the geopolitical balances in the Arctic. Climate change will open up new sea lines, and bring new opportunities for explorations of natural resources in the Arctic, holding potential for increased tensions in the High North. As an indication of this potential tensions -- including military tensions -- in the area, Rasmussen mentioned the increased military presence in the Arctic announced by president Putin last December, and suggested that NATO should stay prepared also in this situation, since art.5 of NATO, covers the all NATO territory, including NATO Arctic territory. Hopefully, the ex-NATO Secretary General concluded, these tensions can be resolved peacefully, for instance within the Arctic Council.
See the interview here.