The cold war in the Arctic

Russia said on Monday its deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin had every right to visit Norway’s Svalbard archipelago, near the North Pole, despite travel restrictions imposed on him over the conflict in Ukraine.

Norway has condemned the trip and asked for an explanation. Moscow called the demand “absurd”.

The archipelago of Svalbard is governed by a unique treaty, which grants Norway sovereignty over the islands, but signatories to the treaty, including Russia, retain equal rights to residence and commercial activities.