Royal Diplomacy in the Arctic: A Century of Norwegian Sovereignty in Svalbard

Norway's King Harald and Queen Sonja are set to visit Svalbard, the strategically significant Arctic archipelago, as global interest intensifies between the U.S., Russia, and China in the resource-rich region.

This visit highlights Arctic strategic value in mining, shipping, and security against the backdrop of U.S. President Donald Trump's Greenland aspirations. The Arctic holds fossil fuels and minerals under the land and seabed, with military and economic competition escalating.

The visit follows French President Emmanuel Macron's Greenland stop, reinforcing European unity. Svalbard, part of Norway since 1925, sits between the North Pole and Europe. A 1920 treaty governs Svalbard, allowing signatory state citizens settlement without a visa while limiting military use, contested by Russia.

(With inputs from agencies.)