The Arctic Railways – Strategic Arteries, Economic Interests and Political Constraints

Bulgarian Historical Review, 54 (2026), No. 1, pp. 174-194
DOI: https://doi.org/10.71069/BHR1.26.KY09

Katina Yoneva

Senior Assist. Prof. Katina Yoneva, Ph. D. - Institute for Historical Studies, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 52 Shipchenski Prohod Blvd, build. 17, Sofia 1113, Bulgaria; Web of Science Researcher ID: AEH-6795-2022, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-2469-0566, E-mail: katinayoneva@abv.bg

Abstract: In the past, the Arctic region was under the attention of the international community only regarding the climate change problems. Over the last decade, the Circumpolar North was acknowledged as an area with commercial potential. In this regard, the paper describes how the region is changing rapidly in terms of the ongoing infrastructure projects in Finland, Norway and Sweden, and the investment initiatives of China. Within this framework, the research focuses on the Arctic railway problem, comparing two cases – the Germanbuilt Hyrynsalmi–Kuusamo Railway (1942–1944) and the ongoing project of the KirkenesRovaniemi Line. Although all countries recognized the importance of common efforts and cooperation for sustainable use and exploration of the region, the increasing military activities in the zone only indicate the importance of maintaining the Arctic partnership and dialogue. For decades, the Nordic countries’ approaches towards neighboring Russia have balanced between caution and amity. In this context, the research compares the two timelines of militarization – the 1940s and the post-2018 period. Correspondingly, the study looks not only at the challenges in front of the Nordic countries, but also at the new geopolitical situation in this strategic area.

Keywords: Arctic region, Nordic countries, The Railroad of Death, The Arctic Railway, History prediction.

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