The Bear Gap: Why This Arctic Route Is Worrying Europe

London may be closer to Russia’s hypersonic missiles than many realise. It may sound like a far-fetched scenario, but a little-known Arctic waterway is at the heart of the concern. Norway is raising alarm over the Bear Gap, the strategic Arctic passage that Moscow could use to project military power deep into Europe. For Norway, the worry is not just the corridor itself, but what it could enable. Defence Minister Tore Sandvik cautioned that control of the Bear Gap would give Russia greater freedom to move submarines into the North Atlantic and expand its military reach far beyond the Arctic.

The Bear Gap may lie in a remote corner of the Arctic, but its military importance is hard to overstate. The passage sits along a key route used by Russian naval forces moving between Arctic waters and the Atlantic. Just across the region is the Kola Peninsula, the heart of Russia’s northern naval operations and home to some of its most powerful submarine assets. According to defence observers, Russia considers the Bear Gap a crucial buffer zone for its Arctic fleet. Greater control over the passage would make it easier to shield submarines based in the Barents Sea before they move into wider waters.

So, could Russia eventually gain control of the Bear Gap? For now, the answer is no. The waterway lies within a region where NATO maintains a strong presence. Still, Moscow has been steadily reinforcing its position in the Arctic, expanding military bases, upgrading ports and modernising airfields while keeping one of its most powerful naval forces nearby.

If Russia were able to operate freely from the Bear Gap, countries including the UK, Denmark and the Netherlands could potentially fall within range of missiles launched from warships and submarines, according to defence experts. However, analysts say any such attack would represent far more than a military escalation. It would amount to a direct confrontation with NATO and the risk of a much wider war.

Russia already fields a vast range of long-range missile systems. Among its newest is the Oreshnik missile, unveiled in late 2024, which Moscow says can carry nuclear warheads and travel at hypersonic speeds over distances of around 5,000 kilometres. While Russia claims Oreshnik can bypass modern air defences, some military analysts remain unconvinced. Alongside it, Russia also operates cruise missiles, submarine-launched missiles and other long-range strike weapons.

The Arctic is no longer the remote, frozen frontier it once seemed. From Trump's interest in Greenland to Russia's military buildup and growing concerns over China's activities, competition in the far north is becoming harder to ignore.