Prince Albert II called for scientific cooperation and respect for international law to remain at the centre of Arctic policy, warning that geopolitical tensions must not undermine long-term collaboration in the region.
The Prince delivered his speech in person at the Arctic Circle Forum in Rome on 3rd March, where discussions focused on the accelerating challenges facing the Arctic.
His appearance came just days after he addressed the Monaco Polar Symposium via video call, where similar themes of deteriorating international collaboration and underfunding in polar research had dominated the three-day event.
In Rome, Prince Albert stressed that Indigenous communities must be central to any decisions shaping the Arctic’s future, stating: “The Arctic is a crucial issue for humanity. Its climate and resources concern us all, and its Indigenous peoples must be respected, listened to, and fully integrated into any decision-making process regarding the future of their lands.”
Collaboration under pressure
The Rome forum gave the Prince an opportunity to reinforce in person what he had urged remotely days earlier in Monaco: that the international community must not let the current moment pass.
With the Fifth International Polar Year due in 2032–33, the window to build lasting frameworks for polar cooperation is narrowing, and the consequences of inaction, extend well beyond the Arctic itself.
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Main photo credit: Michaël Alesi, Prince’s Palace