There are dozens of staffed military bases and facilities around the Arctic, and hundreds more that include radar installations and other support equipment.

The military buildup at the top of the world began in the Second World War, and then receded as the Cold War came to and end. But in the past ten years, with climate change accelerating and Russia waging war in Europe, the Arctic has been re-militarizing.

A huge amount of Arctic territory belongs to Canada, but its military presence pales in comparison to other Arctic nations. Here’s what the military picture looks like:

Canada

• There are currently eight staffed military sites in Canada’s Arctic, the largest of which is in Yellowknife.

Greenland

• There are only three military bases in the territory, the biggest of which is the U.S. Pituffik Space Base (formerly known as Thule Air Base).

The U.S.

• The only part of the U.S. that’s in the Arctic is Alaska, and that’s where all ten of its domestic northern military facilities are.

Russia

• The biggest military player in the Arctic is definitely Russia. Currently there are estimated to be between 30 and 40 staffed military facilities in the country’s north.