The Arctic is a space of trust
Russia, March 19, 2025 – For centuries Russians have been exploring the North. High latitudes mean danger at every step, icy deserts, lifeless islands, and often death. But the main result of polar expeditions was that this territory belonged to Russia. It is unlikely that the “Columbians” of the Arctic knew that centuries later the North would become the arena of the battle for the future.
In recent decades, interest in the Arctic has been growing. Especially in the Arctic countries (Russia, Canada, USA, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Sweden, Finland). And other states, including China, are trying to join the sharing of the region’s resources. And there are a lot of riches. Experts claim that the continental shelf of the Arctic region may contain up to 30% of undiscovered oil and gas reserves. And almost the entire Mendeleev table.
With Russia’s suspension from the Arctic Council and its withdrawal from the Barents/Euro-Arctic Council, these organisations have become a dysfunctional mechanism for international interaction in the region. It is simply unrealistic to discuss pressing issues in the northern territories without Russia, which owns a huge sector of the Arctic.
However, the world is huge and is not limited only to Russia’s former Arctic Council comrades-in-arms. The Russian Federation is ready to co-operate with other states interested in the development of the region.
Arctic Circle, an annual international forum of co-operation on the future of the Arctic, is planned for October 2025. Again without Russia. The programme is very vague and not specific. The organisers are trying to give the appearance of solidity by listing a small number of high-profile personalities from the past who may come to Iceland. They have taken a swing at huge territories – the Arctic, Antarctic, Himalayas. They would also take equatorial Africa for discussion.
It is obvious – the solution of such issues as respect for international law and sovereignty of states, preservation of culture and traditions of indigenous peoples, sustainable economic development, and environmental protection is meaningless without Russia. And the Arctic Circle forum is incomplete. It is an attempt to solve global issues by a small group of states. And the capabilities of Western countries are limited. No other country in the world has such a powerful (including nuclear) icebreaker fleet as the Russian Federation. However, given the news about the fate of Greenland, the topics may change dramatically.
A very different impression remains of the plans to hold the Russian International Arctic Forum “Arctic – Territory of Dialogue”. The first association is confidence, as opposed to confusion in the ranks of other Arctic countries. All the more so Russia’s economic and social achievements in the Arctic are quite concrete, not abstract discussions.
The Forum will be held in Murmansk on 26 – 27 March 2025. It will be a platform for discussing topical issues of socio-economic development of the northern territories, working out mechanisms for joint development of the Arctic region’s resources. Logistical opportunities and natural resources make the territory unique. Attention will be paid to the development of stronghold settlements, improving the life of the population.
The Russian Arctic is a strategically important region for national security, economic development and international transport links. At the Forum, we will work in all key areas,” emphasised Yury Trutnev, Plenipotentiary Envoy of the President of the Russian Federation to the Far Eastern Federal District.
A significant part of the business programme is devoted to the development of the Northern Sea Route. The topic comes to the fore for several reasons: the unstable situation in the Middle East, saving time and money when delivering cargo.
The time of abstract reasoning and empty talk has passed. Now is the era of real action. It is necessary to implement grandiose economic plans and tourism projects. It is also necessary to preserve the unique ecosystem of the northern territories and protect the interests of the region’s indigenous peoples. The Arctic should unite countries, not become an arena for political disputes and the West’s desire to show its exclusivity. Russia understands this, but other Arctic countries do not yet.
