Russia’s Arctic policies: concepts, domestic and international priorities

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper aims to examine the evolution of Russia’s domestic and international policies in the Arctic from the early 2000s to the present. The paper discusses the question whether Russia has radically changed its Arctic policy in the context of the current crisis in the relationships between Russia and the West? Based on the comparative analysis of Russia’s main strategic documents on the Arctic this article explores Russia’s motivations, main interests, strategic priorities and new challenges for Russia’s domestic and foreign policies in the Arctic. The author summarises and evaluates the main results of Russia’s Arctic policy since 2008 and concludes that Russia’s Arctic policy is evolutionary and largely consistent: Russia plans to focus on security issues and sustainable socioeconomic development in the Arctic region. Moreover, the paper presents the analysis of the prospects of Russia’s chairmanship of the Arctic Council from 2021–2023. In sum, the author believes that Russia seeks to balance international cooperation with national security needs.