Arctic Strategy Research Articles

Evolution of the Arctic Strategy of the USA and its Influence on the Foreign Policy Strategy of Russia in the Arctic

"Arctic" is translated from Greek as "northern" or as "bear", which is often associated with Russia and its efforts to develop this region. This is a single physical and geographical region of the Earth adjacent to the North Pole and including the margins of the continents of Eurasia and North America, almost the entire Arctic Ocean with islands (except for the coastal islands of Norway), as well as adjacent parts of the Atlantic and Pacifi c Oceans. The southern border of the Arctic coincides with the northern border of the tundra zone. Now the actions of the United States and NATO in the Arctic region have acquired a clearly anti- Russian character, which was especially manifested in the latest edition of the Arctic Doctrine of the United States. NATO's expansion into the region continues, the scale of the alliance's military exercises conducted there is increasing, which actively involve non-Arctic member countries of the bloc, which does not exclude the emergence of an armed conflict with Russia in the Far North.

Russia’s Arctic icebreaking capability: an assessment

ABSTRACT This paper explores the Russian icebreaker fleet capabilities, problems, and perspectives. It also analyses Russian civilian and military icebreakers, and their dual-use capabilities. The paper responds to a question grounded in Russia's Arctic policy: How critical is icebreaking capability to Russia’s Arctic strategy? Based on the findings, the paper concludes that the influences of climate change and Russia’s foreign and external security policy affect the development of its icebreaker fleet in the Arctic. In this respect, temperatures of the ice melting in the Arctic and delays in building new icebreakers, because of access to the technology caused by the sanctions, are stressed. On the other hand, Russia’s confrontation with the West following the invasion of Ukraine and the sanctions over it, increases the allocation of government finance to support local shipbuilding companies. Moreover, the paper argues that Russia’s economic difficulties and shipbuilding delays should enhance the dual-use capabilities of the Russian icebreakers in the coming years.

Collaboration network analysis for the Arctic issues based on a collection of international collaborative events

In recent years, global warming has accelerated the melting of Arctic ice. The value of the Arctic has been increasing in various aspects and has received widespread attention from the international community. The significance of globalization of the Arctic issue has become more and more prominent, the member states of the Arctic Council, observer states, and non-Arctic countries that have intensively developed and updated their respective Arctic strategies have actively participated about Arctic issues. The international collaboration has gradually become an effective way of addressing Arctic issues. In order to explore the pattern behind the collaborative events about Arctic issues, with the application of complex network analysis, the international collaborative events about Arctic issues from 2013 to 2023 are selected to construct the collaborative networks. Then the collaborative networks are quantitatively analyzed by the relevant parameters of complex network. These parameters for quantitative analysis include network density, average path length, clustering coefficient, degree centrality, closeness centrality and betweenness centrality. The results of the study reveal the changes in international collaboration about Arctic issues from 2013 to 2023.

The Karelian Arctic in the directions of China’s Arctic policy at the present stage

The article identifies four main areas that define China’s strategic goals in the Arctic region: the energy sector, infrastructure, tourism, educational and scientific co-operation. Special attention is paid to the strategic friendship between Russia and China in the context of Arctic policy. The RussianChinese partnership in this region is seen as a key factor in ensuring the stability and development of Russia’s Arctic zone. The interaction between the two countries not only contributes to the strengthening of economic ties, but also ensures the security and sustainable development of the region. The paper presents examples of successful cooperation between the Republic of Karelia and the People’s Republic of China and analyses these relations as an example of the practical implementation of China’s Arctic strategy at the regional level. It is important to note that the realisation of many investment projects on exploration and mining in the Karelian Arctic is connected with the attraction of Chinese investment in this industry. The article also evaluates Chinese interests in the Karelian Arctic in other areas, such as the construction of hydroelectric power station infrastructure projects in the Kemsky region as well as some perspective projects related to the construction of a deep-sea port in Kem or a seaport in Belomorsk.

Политика Республики Корея в полярных регионах в 2023–2033 гг.

This article reviews the current state of the Arctic policy of the Republic of Korea, which, like other states, has increased interest in the Arctic region in recent years, as well as its plan of activities in the Arctic and Antarctic for the coming years. The Republic of Korea needs to gradually develop an Arctic strategy at the government level to promote national interests in the Arctic region. The scientific significance of the article is related to the translation into Russian and analysis of the “Polar Activities Promotion Act for 20232027”, published in February 2023 by the Korean Institute of Marine Science & Technology Promo-tion. The article discusses the content and timing of the country’s 3 main polar policies: research and dis-covery, climate change forecasting, and polar development. In addition, 5 main strategies for promoting the Republic of Korea in the polar region are discussed, including: expanding the area of research of the territory, developing plans to solve environmental and climate problems, creating a polar industrial base, creating a network of cooperation with foreign countries and between industrial and scientific organiza-tions within the country, developing an interstate dialogue on polar activities.

Paths and Implications of Indo-Russian Arctic Cooperation from the Perspective of India’s Arctic Policy

India’s earliest involvement in the Arctic was influenced by the Antarctic, driven primarily by the need for scientific research on the environment and climate change. Later, the importance of Arctic energy and geo-strategic factors became more and more prominent, and these three factors are now the core drivers of India’s involvement in the Arctic. Depending on the degree of importance and involvement of the Indian government in Arctic affairs at different times, India’s Arctic policy can be categorized into three stages: the unformed stage (before 2007), the embryonic stage (2007-2012), and the initial stage (2012-present). With the gradual molding of India’s Arctic strategy, Indo-Russian Arctic cooperation has gradually become a hot topic. Specific cooperation paths include energy, scientific research, transportation and other fields. The driving force of Indo-Russian Arctic cooperation includes historical cooperation foundation, objective cooperation needs, geopolitical strategy and other factors, but at the same time, India’s domestic disagreement on Arctic policy, its own economic level, the complex situation in South Asia, the international political situation, economic risks, technical difficulties, and the U.S.-Russian rivalry also limit the deepening of Indo-Russian Arctic cooperation. For China, India-Russia Arctic cooperation in Arctic affairs and geopolitics in the short term will not pose too much of a threat, but from the point of view of prevention, should still be India and Russia to join forces to maintain appropriate vigilance, in order to better safeguard national interests.

ARCTIC VECTOR OF GERMAN FOREIGN POLICY

Research Objective. The Arctic is a unique region of our planet, one that affects not only the climate, ocean currents, and weather but also geopolitics and the economy. Various international actors vie for influence in the Arctic region, seeking to maintain a balance through international agreements and intergovernmental cooperation. This article provides a brief overview of the Arctic region. It observes the interests of Arctic states and Arctic Council Observers. The main focus is on Germany's Arctic policy as an Arctic Council Observer. The article gives a brief historical overview of Germany's Arctic policy. The transformation of Germany's position regarding the Arctic, as well as the formulation of a national Arctic strategy, is revealed through an examination of inter-party discussions in the German government. The article investigates Germany's current Arctic policy and an overall German strategy in the Arctic region. Additionally, the ecological and scientific research strategies of Germany in the Arctic region are detailed. Furthermore, the article explores Germany's national interests in the Arctic region. The methodological basis of the article is formed by the studies of Russian and foreign researchers. The paper uses general scientific research methods (analysis, synthesis, classification, comparison). Empirical data used in the work are taken from open sources. Conclusions. The described tendencies and contradictions of German and international policy towards the Arctic indicate still unformed ways and instruments to ensure a coherent policy in the Arctic region. Further research and the development of an international Arctic strategy that can satisfy national interests and meet the individual priorities of each state interested in the Arctic is needed.

The ambivalence of the implementation of the US arctic policy: integrating and disintegration factors of the allies

The Arctic region is gaining increasing strategic importance due to its economic potential, resource richness, and shifting geopolitical landscape. The United States has recognized this significance and has established alliances and partnerships with various countries in the region to enhance its positions and interests. However, concerns exist regarding the limited understanding of the complex dynamics and evolving relationships among the US Arctic allies. The lack of comprehensive analysis and up-to-date information hinders the understanding of their strategic documents, military exercises, and interactions with global players like China and Russia. To address these concerns, our objective was to identify, analyze, and assess the factors that strengthen or weaken the interaction between US allies and partners in the Arctic region. We conducted an analysis of national Arctic strategies, reports, publications, and expert opinions from Western Arctic Council countries such as the USA, Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Finland. We also examined the reports and structures of the US defense services, interstate organizations like the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), as well as insights from leading experts on Arctic affairs in allied countries. The study revealed several factors that contribute to the strengthening of the US allies in the Arctic. These include active military cooperation within the North Atlantic Alliance, joint exercises, intelligence sharing, and the development of Arctic infrastructure to enhance regional security and defense capabilities. However, we also identified factors that weaken engagement among the US allies. These include differences in strategic goals, competing territorial claims, domestic political considerations, and varying relationships with other Arctic stakeholders like Russia and China. These factors can lead to tensions and challenges, which undermine collective action and impede the achievement of common goals.

Security for the small: materializing securitization in Finland and Norway

ABSTRACT Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 ruptured Europe’s security constellation, leading to historically neutral Finland and Sweden to seek NATO memberships. While there is literature on how NATO influences country’s security apparatus, the impact of NATO on smaller states’ securitization capacity remains unclear. We undertake 1) a discourse analysis of Norway and Finland’s three respective Arctic strategies, 2) a discourse analysis of two online Arctic newspapers ‘High North News’ and ‘The Barents Observer’, and 3) an analysis of the allocation of Finnish and Norwegian military spending from 2014-2022. We explore both countries as cases where one is a historic member of NATO and the other is not. Despite this, both states share similar structural security risks such as Russia’s geographic proximity. We periodize securitizing dynamics related to the Arctic, matching it to changes in the Finnish and Norwegian military sectors. Given small states lack relative material capabilities, we argue there is a systematic deadlock in transforming securitizing moves into material action. However, as a NATO state, Norway exhibits a significantly higher level of participation in military maneuvers and additional securitizing behavior compared to Finland. By contrast, Finland relies more heavily on intense securitizing rhetoric without accompanying material actions.

Arctic waters: port Sabetta development

Port Sabetta, located in the Russian Arctic along the Northern Sea Route, epitomizes the intersection of geopolitical interests, economic imperatives, and environmental challenges in the Arctic region. The article provides a comprehensive analysis of Port Sabetta's development, focusing on its environmental impact, socio-economic implications, and comparative analysis with other Arctic and non-Arctic ports. The geopolitical context and economic significance of Port Sabetta are explored, highlighting its strategic importance in Russia's Arctic strategy and global energy dynamics. An environmental impact assessment reveals the ecological risks associated with port construction, maritime operations, and industrial activities, emphasizing the need for proactive mitigation measures and regulatory oversight. The socio-economic implications of Port Sabetta's development are examined, including its effects on local communities, regional economies, and indigenous livelihoods. Case studies and comparative analysis of Arctic and non-Arctic ports provide insights into best practices and lessons learned for sustainable port development. The sustainable development of Port Sabetta requires a holistic approach that balances economic growth with environmental protection, social equity, and geopolitical stability.

Борьба за “ледяную Африку”? Гренландия между колониальным прошлым, интересами США и стратегической автономией ЕС

The article deals with the foreign policy priorities of Greenland as they are reflected in the perception and rhetoric of the contemporary Greenlandic elites. The special focus is on the current stage of the autonomous territory’s development, in particular the possibility of concluding a free association agreement, as envisaged in the draft constitution of Greenland, published in April 2023. With the 2019–2023 period as a basis, the article provides an insight into the key events of the following areas of Greenland’s foreign policy contacts: the Danish-Greenlandic relations, Inuit internationalism where the bonds with the Inuit of Canada are of most significance, Greenland's place in the US Arctic strategy and its great-power competition with China, and, finally, the increased interest of the EU and certain European countries in fostering relations with the Danish Arctic autonomy, which can contribute to developing the EU strategic autonomy. The study of the political discourse has shown that Greenlandic elites have been successfully using colonial ‘traumas’ and a growing circle of contacts with major external actors to exact pressure on Copenhagen and expand its political leverage despite the absence of substantial economic successes comparable to those achieved by the Faroe Islands, another Danish autonomy. Greenland’s desire to increase its own actorness on the international scene makes it difficult for Copenhagen to use the ‘Greenland card’ both in its relations with the USA to revitalize the special relations with the key ally and as a contribution to the EU strategic autonomy. The Danish leadership is thus entrapped by Greenland’s own economic and foreign policy potential, since the widespread use of Greenland in relations with the EU, NATO, the United States and other actors of world politics could potentially lead to the renewed mounting pressure on Copenhagen from Greenland and to the autonomy’s further alienation and diplomatic self-sufficiency.

China’s Arctic Strategy – a Comprehensive Approach in Times of Great Power Rivalry

China’s Arctic Strategy – a Comprehensive Approach in Times of Great Power Rivalry

Обзор научных публикаций по изучению миграции населения в российской Арктике

The purpose of the article is to conduct a quantitative and qualitative analysis of Russian-language publications on the topic of population migration in the Arctic zone of Russia. The national bibliographic database of scientific citation hosted on the eLIBRARY.RU platform was used as a source of information. The research methodology is based on the use of structural-semantic analysis of texts in combination with general scientific methods (analysis, generalization and systematization). The time period of 20102022 is characterized by an increase in the number of publications on migration issues in the Arctic zone of Russia, which was most clearly manifested during the adoption of Russia’s Arctic strategies. During the period under review, Russian authors prepared about 300 articles on the study of population migration in the Russian Arctic. However, the number of researchers who regularly publish papers on this topic is small. The analysis made it possible to identify an objective list of authors groups (scientific schools) that are leading in terms of the number of publications in this subject area. The main directions of the population migrations study in the Russian Arctic zone are considered according to six key scientific schools, general and special approaches of the authors to the study of Arctic migrations are highlighted. The study results will be useful and interesting to scientists, whose research area is related to population migration, including in the Russiaт Arctic regions; specialists dealing with social issues of the development of the Arctic territories; postgraduates and students involved in this field.

Comparative Analysis of Arctic-Related Strategies at the National Level: Competition and Collaboration

The melting of ice creates favorable conditions for the development of the Arctic by elevating the Arctic’s geostrategic value and stoking national competition. As a result, many states, both within and beyond the Arctic region, have recently released Arctic strategies or updated existing ones, clarifying their roles, interests, priorities, and policies for Arctic international cooperation. In this study, a database is generated with a collection of Arctic strategies from 16 states, and then grounded theory is applied to code the texts in these strategy documents. Using this code, word-frequency analysis, cross-tabulation, correlation analysis, and cooperative-network analysis are implemented to explore competition and collaboration in the Arctic among these 16 states. The results indicate that Arctic states are significantly concerned with governance, economic and social development, and security and stability, while environmental protection and scientific research are given more attention by non-Arctic states. In addition, the highest value of the Pearson correlation coefficient is identified as 0.85 for collaboration and Arctic public security affairs, which indicates that collaboration on Arctic security will dominate the development of Arctic affairs in the near future.

The Dilemma of Sustainable Development of Russian Arctic Development Based on ANP-SWOT Model Theory Perspective

This study mainly focuses on the development of the Arctic region and the difficulties it faces in the new situation. Finding a suitable development path for low-carbon environmental protection and sustainable development has gradually become the focus of attention in all countries. The secret contest of strength is also becoming increasingly fierce. The escalation of the arms race has virtually made the ambitious Russian Arctic plan more radical. This article will use the “ANP-SWOT” strategic analysis method to reveal the possible damage to the environment of the Arctic region and its unsustainable side behind Russia’s grand development plan in the Arctic region. At the same time, it will list the views and contradictions of the countries in the region for the proposals on the resolution of conflicts, broaden the perspective to the global scope, take the common interests of all mankind as the starting point, combine the views and contradictions of all parties, and put forward proposals that are truly beneficial to the development of the Arctic region, thereby promoting inter-regional cooperation and developing a new Arctic strategy that prioritizes global progress and prosperity.

CLIMATE AGENDA AND ITS CONSIDERATION BY THE CIRCUMPOLAR WORLD COMPANIES

The high ecological footprint of Arctic companies, primarily from the extraction of resources, coupled with the particular exposure of the circumpolar world to the risks of climate change determines the need for a special environmental policy in the Arctic that takes into account both national and regional challenges. The paper shows the differentiation of the Arctic strategies and environmental policies of various states. Based on the statistical analysis of indicators and content analysis of non-financial reports of the largest companies in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, the priorities of the corporate policy in the field of sustainable development were established, and they were compared with Russian companies in general. The increase in the degree of consideration of the climate agenda by companies in the circumpolar world and insufficient actions in other areas of greening were shown. Recommendations to ensure the complex environmental safety of the circumpolar world were formulated.
 Purpose: to determine the degree to which the climate agenda is taken into account by circumpolar world companies as part of their environmental policy (using the example of business entities operating in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation).
 Methodology and method: the study is based on the methodology of neo-positivism, applied statistics and content analysis were used.
 Results: the increasing degree of consideration of the climate agenda by the circumpolar world companies as well as the insufficiency of their actions in other areas of greening were shown.
 The scope of the results: the recommendations made are of interest to state and municipal authorities to improve the effectiveness of policy in the field of sustainable development of the Arctic territories.

Securing Arctic Dominance Through Innovation: A Case Study of the Squad Stove

The United States Army, a highly bureaucratic organization, can stand to benefit from rapid incremental innovation implementation. With the publishing of “Regaining Arctic Dominance” in 2021, the Army renewed its interest in cold-weather operations. This renewed interest calls for “Arctic-capable units able to effectively conduct sustained operations in extreme cold weather and mountainous environments”. The conflicts of the previous two decades occurred in hot climates, but with the focus shifting to extreme cold weather regions, the Army must now address deficiencies in training, sustaining, and equipping its forces to meet the intent of the new Arctic Strategy. This paper concentrates on small units and addresses the question of whether soldiers are fielded with the appropriate equipment to provide enough water for their teams while operating in isolated arctic and sub-arctic climates. Comparing the current squad stove against other commercial and modified options reveals that there is room for improvement when it comes to soldier hydration and nutrition in extreme, cold weather. This paper uses a method of personal observation, Army doctrine review, and experimentation to identify shortcomings with the current equipment sets used to heat water and melt snow from the environment. The research findings highlight the importance for Army leaders to continue to empower the lowest levels, capture their innovations, communicate the issues to decision makers, and seek long-term solutions by navigating the bureaucracy on behalf of the individual American soldier. Rapid, incremental innovations at the lower levels can lead to drastic increases in efficiency and soldier welfare in the meantime.

DANISH GRANT AND SCHOLARSHIP POLICIES TOWARDS RUSSIA IN 2011–2021

The paper deals with issues of cooperation between Denmark and Russia in Arctic research and academic mobility projects, making an emphasis on scholarship and grant policy. Despite the fact, that international cooperation in research and education is one of the core priorities in both Arctic strategies, before the year 2022 it was functioning in specific conditions. Scholarship and grant policy appeared to be a «soft power» tool for Copenhagen due to research topics, concentration of project management in Danish hands and disproportions in student mobility scholarship programmes. Interaction between Russian and Danish researchers has not been a subject to special attention from Danish authorities and foundations. On the contrary, researchers from both countries interacted within investigating the issues of the Arctic region actively. Even international turbulence after 2014 did not affect it: both countries stated that the «Arctic vector» is to stay aside from any turbulence. Expanding the scholarship programmes for Russian researchers in order to support their mobility to Denmark, Greenland and Faroe Islands enforced this idea. So did formal prioritization of cooperation with Russian research and educational institutions in Arctic research in 2021 for grant support. Though turbulent situation in 2022 led to suspending the interaction, it is clear that there are formal and informal grounds to restore it upon normalization. That fact will require revisiting the previous cooperation experience and implementation of the best grant and scholarship practices by Russian relevant agencies.

The U.S. Arctic Strategy: New Challenges

The article examines the recently published documents on the priorities of the U.S. in the Arctic region. At the end of 2022, the U.S. Department of Energy published the document titled “Arctic Strategy”, and the White House released “The New National Strategy for the Arctic Region”. The latter strategic document presents the U.S. policy for the development of the Arctic over the next ten years. It addresses a number of issues, in particular rising geopolitical tension and the climate crisis, which significant effect the stable development of the Arctic re-gion. In the time of global rivalry between Russia and the West, the United States has stepped up its policy in the Arctic. The creation of these documents confirms the willingness of the United States to strengthen own presence in the region. The key directions of the U.S. policy in the Arctic, as well as areas of greatest interest to the USA are clearly defined in the strategic documents. The development of naval forces, construction of new ships, and further study of the climatic features of the Arctic region are addressed. Moreover, the documents express the U.S. firm intention to continue development of energy projects in the Arctic, and deepen cooperation with allies and partners by using multilateral mechanisms.

2022: Российская Арктика во времена перемен

The purpose of the article is to comprehend the problems of the Russian Arctic against the background of a special military operation in Ukraine in 2022. The research methodology is based on interdisciplinarity, general scientific methods, priority use of primary sources. The author investigates the current topics of determining the outer limits of the Russian continental shelf in the Arctic, Russia’s participation in the Arctic Council, the US Arctic strategy in 2019, 2022 and the US Arctic strategy in 2022. The volume of freight traffic in the Northern Sea Route and the Arctic Basin over the past few years, the activities of the newly established in 2022 FSBI “Glavsevmorput”, the creation of a single platform of digital services are analyzed. Due to Russia’s ongoing Asian turn in international relations to the east, the increase in the vol-ume of cargo transportation to Asia and the sanctions of the collective West, there is an urgent need to bring existing regulations, navigation rules in line with the current reality in the economy and politics, to ensure the security of the entire Russian Arctic. In perspective, the transformation of the NSR water area into the sea transport corridor from Murmansk in the west to Vladivostok in the east becomes quite possible. In 2022, a modified procedure for identifying existing names of geographical objects was approved. An important aspect is the appearance on the map of the names of the Russians participated in the study of the Arctic. The complex of external and internal challenges in the Russian Arctic is not limited to the problems mentioned in the article and requires further research.