ARCTIC HORIZONS: COOPERATION BETWEEN RUSSIA AND CHINA IN A CHANGING POLAR AND GEOPOLITICAL LANDSCAPE

Abstract

Recently, the Arctic has become a focal point of geopolitical activity, driven by changes in the environment, resource exploration, and strategic interests. In the Arctic region, competition and rivalry, both military and economic, are intertwined with the pursuit of peaceful and mutually beneficial cooperation. This cooperation spans multiple areas, including economy, politics, security, technological advancements and environmental protection. The focus of this article is to examine how international actors interact in the Arctic, especially in the context of the tensions between the United States and Russia, as well as the growing competition between the United States and China. This study emphasizes the growing partnership between Russia and China and its crucial role as a central axis of cooperation in the region. As Russia views the Arctic as a strategic resource base, both from an economic and security point of view, and as China takes a keen interest in Arctic affairs due to its global status and economic imperatives, the importanc e of partnership between the two countries is increasing.The main points of this study are devoted to defining the strategic interests of Russia and China in the Arctic, their joint efforts in energy and infrastructure projects, and the consequences of their cooperation for the management of the Arctic and international relations. The study also examines the approaches of Russia and China to Arctic governance.