India plays a crucial role in the Arctic by promoting stability, openness, and multilateralism amidst the region’s great-power competition. Despite being overlooked, India’s significance in the Arctic becomes evident when viewed as an interconnected system influencing climate, oceans, trade, and governance across latitudes. India’s engagement in the Arctic is based on science, norms, and diplomacy rather than power or commerce.
Since 2008, India’s Himadri research station in Svalbard has been pivotal in studying cryosphere dynamics, atmospheric circulation, and Arctic-monsoon linkages. This scientific work is vital as Arctic warming impacts jet streams, weather volatility, and monsoonal behavior in South Asia, affecting food security and economic stability. India’s diplomatic credibility as an observer at the Arctic Council is built on disciplined engagement, respecting Arctic states and indigenous communities.
India’s approach in the Arctic focuses on coherence rather than symbolic displays of presence. It aims for a clearer articulation of the region’s importance beyond climate research, a stronger link between Arctic science and diplomacy, and collaboration with other middle powers to shape shared norms. The Arctic’s growing significance is intertwined with the broader Indo-Pacific framework, influencing Asia-Europe connectivity, weather patterns in the Indian Ocean basin, and global governance norms.
