Denmark's Policies Toward the Svalbard Area

Denmark and Norway have settled all their disputes in the Arctic region except one—sovereign rights in the maritime area adjacent to Svalbard. This article finds that Danish policies toward the Svalbard area have developed since the mid-1970s from being supportive of the exclusive claims of Norway, to a reserved position, and, most recently, to one of confrontation. This article explains this change of Danish posture.