India’s engagement in the Arctic has evolved from a primarily scientific focus to one increasingly shaped by geopolitical and strategic considerations. However, this shift highlights an inconsistency in India’s strategic decision-making: while New Delhi seeks to help shape a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific by working with like-minded democracies, its Arctic strategy remains largely anchored in cooperation with Russia, whose actions in Ukraine have undermined that very order.

This paper examines this apparent paradox by exploring the economic, strategic, and security drivers of India’s Arctic policy, including concerns over China’s regional influence and the potential for alternative trade routes. It outlines an alternative Arctic strategy that Indian officials could consider.

The paper concludes with policy recommendations advocating for closer cooperation between India and the Nordic states—and Europe, more broadly—as a viable alternative to India’s reliance on Russia in the Arctic.