National security of the Russian Federation in the Arctic region: geopolitical challenges and strategic decisions

Abstract

This article aims to highlight the international situation in the Arctic region. The national strategies of the Arctic states studied by the authors lead to the fact that all these program documents have five general directions of state policy in the Arctic: state sovereignty, socio-economic development, infrastructure and communication support, environmental safety, research activities. The authors consider international relations as a separate direction that develops around the Arctic region. In official rhetoric discourse of peaceful interstate political and economic cooperation, openness to dialogue with all international players, both state and commercial dominate. However, in all documents of strategic planning of the Arctic countries, without exception, the prevalence of national interests, its decisive importance in public policy, determination to defend and protect them both by diplomatic and military means are emphasized. Disputes of a territorial nature and regulatory aspects of its joint development have been around the Arctic region for more than a decade. As we see, in practice, these debates are rarely resolved quickly and does not satisfy all parties. It indicates the passive conflict in the region. The participating countries are trying to strengthen their presence in the Arctic territories, but today other players, including the eastern countries, see the Arctic region as very attractive for government projects and public policy. The multiplicity of players in the Arctic complicates the process of negotiation, finding points of contact and building a constructive dialogue. The buildup of military presence in the Arctic threatens not only the participants of the new arms race, but also the entire international community.