The Visegrad Group’s Approach to the Arctic: Which (Sub-Regional) Policies?

The Visegrád countries (or V4) are increasingly showing interest in the Arctic region. With different levels of engagement, the four countries carry on diplomatic, economic, and scientific activities in the Arctic. Poland and the Czech Republic are particularly active when it comes to engagement with Arctic policies. Poland enjoys Observer status at both the Arctic Council and the Barents Euro-Arctic Council. The Czech Republic, on the other hand, officially applied for Observer Status in the Arctic Council in December 2020. Hungary and Slovakia, instead, have not issued significant political documents referring to the Arctic region, even though they are involved in research cooperations in Arctic-related issues and have economic and diplomatic relationships with the Arctic states. Also, the V4 group has not issued a document addressing the Arctic policy so far – however, it engages regularly in dialogues with Arctic countries on several issues. This chapter investigates the Visegrád Group's approach to the Arctic, considered its approach as a group, as well as the national policies that have been adopted and implemented so far by the four countries, including their relationships with the Arctic states.