RUSSIA'S NATIONAL INTERESTS IN THE ARCTIC AND THE PROBLEMS OF THEIR IMPLEMENTATION

Abstract

Based on the analysis of the conceptual documents of the Russian Federation the article determines Russias national interests in the Arctic, as well as the problems of their implementations. The importance of the Arctic zone for the strategic development of Russia is determined primarily by the natural resource potential that forms the basis for the countrys sustainable development. Along with the resource potential, of particular importance is the use of the possibilities of the Northern Sea Route (NSR) as a national transport highway. The special status of the Arctic is determined also by the geopolitical factor, the need to ensure the countrys military security. At the present stage, the leadership of the country have taken serious steps to implement the planned national projects, however, along with the successes the author notes negative trends related to the worsening of the demographic situation in the region, growing shortage of professional staff and insufficient funding.