Arctic Crossroads
Greenland occupies a strategic position between two developing Arctic shipping routes -- the Northwest Passage and the Northern Sea Route -- and overlooks the GIUK Gap, a potential naval chokepoint.
RUSSIA
USA
Arctic
ocean
Sea ice extent
(September 2025)
Northwest
Passage
Northern Sea
Route
GUIK
Gap
GREENLAND
ICELAND
Atlantic Ocean
CANADA
RUSSIA
USA
Arctic
ocean
Sea ice extent
(September 2025)
Northwest
Passage
Northern Sea
Route
GUIK
Gap
CANADA
GREENLAND
ICELAND
Atlantic Ocean