Geopolitics of the GIUK Gap

The GIUK Gap—stretching between Greenland, Iceland, and the United Kingdom—has long been a critical maritime chokepoint. Throughout the 20th century, it shaped naval strategy, from protecting Allied supply lines in both World Wars to serving as a frontline in Cold War anti-submarine warfare. Control over this passage determined military advantage in the North Atlantic, influencing power projection and transatlantic defense. Though its significance waned following the Cold War, the GIUK Gap is taking on new relevance amid mounting Russian naval activity, Arctic expansion, and emerging hybrid threats, making it once again a maritime chokepoint of strategic note.