Research on the adjustments of the UK's new Arctic policy and its impact on Arctic governance

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1004-9479.2025.10.20240361

Abstract

Abstract:

The UK is a non-Arctic state with global influence, which has a long history of participating in Arctic affairs. Based on the new geopolitical environment in the Arctic and its own interests, the UK government released an updated Arctic policy, "Look North: Britain and the Arctic" in 2023, attaching great importance to the geopolitical security in the Arctic, and strengthening cooperation among allies. In the new policy, Britain has made adjustments in four aspects: role position, security cognition, great power relations and implementation path, showing the characteristics of "militarization, camp-oriented, practicality and leadership". It will effectively guide the UK's actions and practices in Arctic affairs and enhance the UK's participation and voice in Arctic governance. As an important NATO ally and a major Arctic scientific research country, the UK's new policy will have an overall impact on Arctic security governance, Arctic regional governance mechanism and Arctic development governance. Considering the similarities in the Arctic identities and interests of China and the UK, it is of great significance to strengthen cooperation on Arctic affairs between China and the UK.

Key words: UK, Arctic policy, Arctic governance, Russia-Ukraine conflict, NATO

摘要：

英国参与北极事务历史悠久，是具有全球影响力的北极域外国家。基于北极地缘政治新态势和自身利益诉求，2023年英国新版北极政策《向北看：英国与北极》高度重视北极地缘政治安全，并通过加强与盟友合作以应对挑战。在新政策中，英国在角色定位、安全认知、大国关系和实施路径4个方面进行了调整，表现出“军事化、阵营化、务实性、引领性”的特征。这一政策有效指导了英国在北极事务中的行动与实践，提升了其在北极治理中的参与度和话语权。作为北约重要盟国和北极科研大国，英国新政的布局调整将对北极安全治理、北极区域治理以及北极发展治理产生全局性影响。考虑到中英两国北极身份和利益诉求的相似性，因此加强中英北极事务合作具有重要意义。

关键词: 英国, 北极政策, 北极治理, 俄乌冲突, 北约

Han LIU, Hongsong LIU. Research on the adjustments of the UK's new Arctic policy and its impact on Arctic governance[J]. World Regional Studies, 2025, 34(10): 45-59.

刘涵, 刘宏松. 英国北极政策的布局调整及其对北极治理的影响[J]. 世界地理研究, 2025, 34(10): 45-59.

Figures/Tables 5

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时间	文件名称	机构
2013	Adapting to Change: UK policy towards the Arctic（适应变化：英国的北极政策）	外交部
2015	Responding to a Changing Arctic（应对不断变化的北极）	上议院北极问题特别委员会
2018	Beyond the Ice: UK policy towards the Arctic（超越冰层：英国的北极政策）	外交部
2018	On Thin Ice: UK defence in the Arctic（薄冰之上：英国在北极的防御）	下议院国防委员会
2022	The UK’s Defence Contribution in the High North（英国对高北地区的防务贡献）	国防部
2023	Looking North: the UK and the Arctic（向北看：英国与北极）	外交部
2023	Our Friends in the North: UK strategy towards the Arctic（我们在北方的朋友：英国北极战略）	上议院国际关系和国防委员会

时间	文件名称	机构
2013	Adapting to Change: UK policy towards the Arctic（适应变化：英国的北极政策）	外交部
2015	Responding to a Changing Arctic（应对不断变化的北极）	上议院北极问题特别委员会
2018	Beyond the Ice: UK policy towards the Arctic（超越冰层：英国的北极政策）	外交部
2018	On Thin Ice: UK defence in the Arctic（薄冰之上：英国在北极的防御）	下议院国防委员会
2022	The UK’s Defence Contribution in the High North（英国对高北地区的防务贡献）	国防部
2023	Looking North: the UK and the Arctic（向北看：英国与北极）	外交部
2023	Our Friends in the North: UK strategy towards the Arctic（我们在北方的朋友：英国北极战略）	上议院国际关系和国防委员会

文本	2018年《超越冰层：英国的北极政策》	2023年《向北看：英国与北极》	评述
角色定位	北极近邻，极地事务的世界领导者	北极近邻	弱化“极地事务世界领导者”的定位
优先领域	投射全球影响力、保护北极居民和环境、促进繁荣	伙伴与合作、保护气候、人类和环境、维护安全和稳定、促进共同繁荣	“投射全球影响力”改为“伙伴与合作”，增加“维护安全和稳定”
安全认知	保障前往北极旅游的英国国民的安全；参与北极航行搜索和救援	在提及民事安全的基础上，指出北极存在安全防务问题，发展自身防务能力并开展与北约合作非常重要	从仅关注民事安全，转变为聚焦地缘政治安全
主要合作国家	芬兰、挪威、加拿大、俄罗斯	介绍“北极七国”的双边关系	深化与“北极七国”的伙伴关系，中止与俄北极合作
俄罗斯相关表述	加强与俄罗斯在北极理事会框架下的科学合作；鼓励与俄罗斯在巴伦支地区开展交通合作。	俄乌冲突破坏了北极理事会和平合作，英国支持盟友减少对俄罗斯战略依赖的努力，并暂停与俄的政府间接触	从推进与俄在北极多领域合作，转变为谴责并暂停与俄政府间合作
中国相关表述	“一带一路”可能涉及的潜在风险，项目必须符合国际标准。	提及“一带一路”潜在风险：中国在北极的经济、战略和安全利益正在上升；“十四五”规划将深海和极地勘探确定为7个“关键科技前沿领域”之一	从“债务陷阱论”升级为关注中国北极事务的战略意图
实践路径	保护北极气候和环境、推动北极科研和创新、促进北极经济和商业发展	保护北极气候和环境、推动北极科研和创新、促进北极经济和商业发展	基本一致，新政拓展新领域、丰富实践路径

文本	2018年《超越冰层：英国的北极政策》	2023年《向北看：英国与北极》	评述
角色定位	北极近邻，极地事务的世界领导者	北极近邻	弱化“极地事务世界领导者”的定位
优先领域	投射全球影响力、保护北极居民和环境、促进繁荣	伙伴与合作、保护气候、人类和环境、维护安全和稳定、促进共同繁荣	“投射全球影响力”改为“伙伴与合作”，增加“维护安全和稳定”
安全认知	保障前往北极旅游的英国国民的安全；参与北极航行搜索和救援	在提及民事安全的基础上，指出北极存在安全防务问题，发展自身防务能力并开展与北约合作非常重要	从仅关注民事安全，转变为聚焦地缘政治安全
主要合作国家	芬兰、挪威、加拿大、俄罗斯	介绍“北极七国”的双边关系	深化与“北极七国”的伙伴关系，中止与俄北极合作
俄罗斯相关表述	加强与俄罗斯在北极理事会框架下的科学合作；鼓励与俄罗斯在巴伦支地区开展交通合作。	俄乌冲突破坏了北极理事会和平合作，英国支持盟友减少对俄罗斯战略依赖的努力，并暂停与俄的政府间接触	从推进与俄在北极多领域合作，转变为谴责并暂停与俄政府间合作
中国相关表述	“一带一路”可能涉及的潜在风险，项目必须符合国际标准。	提及“一带一路”潜在风险：中国在北极的经济、战略和安全利益正在上升；“十四五”规划将深海和极地勘探确定为7个“关键科技前沿领域”之一	从“债务陷阱论”升级为关注中国北极事务的战略意图
实践路径	保护北极气候和环境、推动北极科研和创新、促进北极经济和商业发展	保护北极气候和环境、推动北极科研和创新、促进北极经济和商业发展	基本一致，新政拓展新领域、丰富实践路径

北极理事会工作组	英国参与的主要项目
北极动植物保护工作组(CAFF)	北极候鸟倡议(AMBI)
	极地生物多样性监测方案（CBMP）
	北极生物多样性行动
北极监测与评估工作组(AMAP)	北极可持续观测网（SAON）
北极监测与评估工作组(AMAP)	污染物问题：持久性有机污染物和汞
北极海洋环境保护工作组（PAME）	北极海洋旅游：北极的发展与实现真正的变革
北极海洋环境保护工作组（PAME）	北极海洋油气相关噪声管理