Where is the threat from Russia and China in the arctic?

By Jackie Northam

Published January 25, 2026 at 4:35 PM CST

As Trump points to Russia and China near Greenland, experts say the biggest Russian and Chinese activity is elsewhere in the Arctic.

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All Things Considered

Jackie Northam

Jackie Northam is NPR's International Affairs Correspondent. She is a veteran journalist who has spent three decades reporting on conflict, geopolitics, and life across the globe - from the mountains of Afghanistan and the desert sands of Saudi Arabia, to the gritty prison camp at Guantanamo Bay and the pristine beauty of the Arctic.

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