Session Description: The Arctic is at the forefront of global change, where climate, geopolitics, and innovation converge. This session, titled “Geopolitics of the Arctic: Competition and Collaboration”, examines the region’s growing strategic importance as melting ice opens new trade routes and access to resources. Nicolas Jouan will guide us through the complexities of Arctic geopolitics, focusing on the interplay between competition and collaboration among major powers, including China, Russia, and Western nations. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of the Arctic’s evolving role in global security and its implications for international relations.

Speaker Bio: Nicolas Jouan is a senior defence and security analyst at RAND. His research interests relate to arms production, acquisition policy, supply-chain analysis, European defence and regional geopolitics with a focus on the Arctic region. He has contributed to policy research projects for the UK, US, and Australian governments. Prior to joining RAND, Jouan worked for market research firms Euromonitor and GlobalData in London where he specialised in the global defence industry. He holds an M.Litt. in International Relations from the University of St. Andrews and an M.Res. in Modern History from the University of Paris IV Sorbonne.