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The Geopolitics of the Arctic

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27
10:00 am October 2026
Add to Calendar 2026-10-27 10:00:00 2026-10-16 20:31:10 The Geopolitics of the Arctic Description Location Policy Center Policy Center Africa/Casablanca public
The Geopolitics of the Arctic roundtable


The Policy Center for the New South, in collaboration with the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Rabat, will host a roundtable on “The Geopolitics of the Arctic” on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, featuring Dr. Andreas Østhagen, Senior Researcher at the Fridtjof Nansen Institute (FNI).

The Arctic has long been characterized by stability and international cooperation among the eight Arctic countries. However, Russia’s war against Ukraine, increased military activity in the Arctic, rapid climate change opening up new maritime routes, and growing strategic interest from actors outside the Arctic are reshaping the regional security environment. Great-power politics are increasingly affecting the Arctic, with consequences for non-Arctic states and new areas of competition.

The discussion will provide an opportunity to exchange views on the implications of climate change, emerging maritime routes, access to natural resources, and the challenges facing regional governance and international cooperation.

Agenda
 

10:00–10:30Welcome coffee
10:30–10:45Introductory remarks
Mohammed Loulichki, Senior Fellow, Policy Center for the New South
10:45–11:15

Presentation: The Geopolitics of the Arctic
Moderator: Mohammed Loulichki, Senior Fellow, Policy Center for the New South
Speaker: Andreas Østhagen, Senior Researcher, Fridtjof Nansen Institute (FNI)

  • Overview of the evolving geopolitical dynamics in the Arctic
  • The growing strategic importance of the Arctic in international relations
  • Key geopolitical actors and regional security challenges
11:15–12:00Discussion
Speakers
Mohammed Loulichki
Senior Fellow
Mohammed Loulichki is a Senior Fellow at the Policy Center for the New South and an Affiliate Professor at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University. He brings over 40 years of comprehensive experience in diplomacy, conflict resolution, and human rights. He has served in various roles including as a member and Deputy Head of the Moroccan delegation to the 3rd Conference on the Law of the Sea (1982-1990), Head of the Department of Legal Affairs and Treaties at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1988-1991), and General Director for Multilateral Affairs in the same ministry (2003-2006).   He also acted as Morocco's Ambassador to Hungary, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Croatia (1995-1999), and was the Moroccan Government's Ambassador Coordinator with MINURSO (1999-2001). Furthermore, he se ...
Andreas Østhagen
Research Director for Arctic and Ocean Politics and Research Professor, Fridtjof Nansen Institute (FNI)
Andreas Østhagen is Research Director for Arctic and Ocean Politics and Research Professor at the Fridtjof Nansen Institute (FNI) in Oslo. His research covers Arctic geopolitics and security, Norwegian High North policy, maritime boundaries, ocean governance, and the management of natural resources. He has worked on questions concerning international relations, security, legal frameworks, natural resource development, and maritime disputes in the Arctic.Østhagen holds a PhD in International Relations from the University of British Columbia (UBC), where his research focused on ocean politics and disputes, as well as an MSc from the London School of Economics (LSE) and a bachelor’s degree in political economy from NTNU and the University of Bergen. He previously worked at the No ...