Svalbard Islands, the next Arctic hotspot?

The principle of "when the lips are gone, the teeth are cold" still applies in the Arctic Circle. According to reports from France International Radio, The New York Times, and other media, recent actions by the U.S. government eyeing the Danish autonomous territory of Greenland have caused unease in the Svalbard archipelago, which is also located within the Arctic Circle and is under the sovereignty of the Norwegian government. A senior official from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Peter S., told The New York Times, "The splash caused by the political storm in Greenland will inevitably fall on the Svalbard archipelago." Map of the Svalbard archipelago The Svalbard archipelago is located between 74° and 81° north latitude, entirely within the Arctic Circle and close to the North Pole. This unique geographical position places it at the forefront of climate change, making it "the place most sensitive to global warming." As a result, the archipelago has attracted scientists from around the world, becoming a center for climate change research and communication. Researcher Vidal from the Norwegian Polar Institute stated, "This is a place where international scientific cooperation can truly happen." The special historical evolution of the archipelago has also created favorable conditions for countries to gather here. According to information from the Svalbard Museum website, people have been coming to the Svalbard archipelago since the 17th century for hunting, mining, or scientific research activities. However, at that time, the island did not belong to any country. It was not until the end of World War I that various parties finally reached an agreement and signed the Svalbard Treaty in 1920. This treaty formally established that the Kingdom of Norway has sovereignty over the Svalbard archipelago. However, the treaty also strictly limits the powers of the Norwegian government; according to the regulations, citizens of the contracting states can settle in the Svalbard archipelago without a visa and enjoy rights to activities including hunting, fishing, and mining, and even land ownership (China also joined this treaty in the 1920s, becoming one of the contracting states). The Chinese Arctic Yellow River Station was built here in 2004. The BBC once wrote, "Svalbard is a place where anyone can call home." However, recent circumstances have begun to change. The New York Times commented that the "good days" of international cooperation seem to be coming to an end. Like Greenland, the Svalbard archipelago has rich mineral and rare earth resources. Additionally, as Arctic waterways become increasingly open, the strategic significance of Svalbard's location has grown; due to its proximity to the North Pole, it has also become an ideal location for tracking missiles and downloading satellite data. The treaty stipulates that Norwegian citizens and non-Norwegian citizens on the island enjoy the same rights and must maintain demilitarization, but the archipelago has recently prohibited the sale of land to non-Norwegian citizens, and Norway has also strengthened its coastal patrols in the archipelago. Risk Warning and Disclaimer The market has risks, and investment should be cautious. This article does not constitute personal investment advice and does not take into account the specific investment goals, financial situation, or needs of individual users. Users should consider whether any opinions, views, or conclusions in this article align with their specific circumstances. Investment based on this is at one's own risk