New Delhi [India]: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday underscored India’s expanding role in polar regions, highlighting the nation’s longstanding presence in the Antarctic and its growing strategic focus on the Arctic
Speaking at the Arctic Circle India Forum 2025, Jaishankar stated that India has been involved in Antarctic research for over four decades and has recently intensified its Arctic initiatives through a formal Arctic policy and international collaborations, including agreements with KSAT in Svalbard relevant to space applications.
“As the country with the most young people on this planet, what happens in the Arctic is of extreme importance to us. The region’s transformation due to climate change, technology, and resource potential will have global repercussions, including on India’s economic trajectory,” Jaishankar said.
He stressed that the Arctic’s warming climate is opening new maritime routes and unlocking untapped resources, which will reshape global trade and geopolitics. India, with its rapidly growing economy, must stay closely engaged with these developments.
Jaishankar also noted that sharpening geopolitical tensions, particularly shifts within the U.S. political system and collaborations between China and Russia, are further elevating the Arctic’s strategic significance.
Former Icelandic President and Chairman of the Arctic Circle, Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, echoed Jaishankar’s sentiments, urging Indian economists and policymakers to recognise the Arctic’s role in India’s future.
“India’s economic future will increasingly depend on access to Arctic resources,” Grimsson said. “With geopolitical dynamics shifting and new alliances forming, India’s decisions and partnerships will play a key role in shaping the Arctic’s evolving landscape.”
The Arctic Circle India Forum served as a platform to discuss India’s vision for sustainable development, climate resilience, and economic engagement in the polar north.