China-Russian cooperation in the Arctic: A cause for concern for the Western Arctic States?

Increasing cooperation between China and Russia does not imply the development of an anti-Western pact and a coordinated revisionist strategy pursued by them in the Arctic. The Western Arctic States should monitor China-Russian regional cooperation but refrain from adopting strategies premised on the assumption both are, or will become, deeply aligned with each other. Russia and China should continue to be treated as distinct regional challenges requiring specific strategies towards each. Strengthening strategic solidarity between the Western Arctic States, including the United States (US) as a reinvigorated regional actor, in tackling specific challenges posed by these powers and adapting to a changing Arctic geopolitical environment is necessary. If American regional strategies, however, are solely about confrontation and exclusion against these powers, and pressuring across the board policy conformity onto its allies in these pursuits, these will be insufficient in addressing regional issues and risk marginalizing the autonomy and interests of smaller states like Canada. Facing such possibilities, Canada must continue to develop its own regional capabilities, become more forward leaning in addressing security and economic matters, and increase collaboration with the other smaller Arctic states to avoid the ongoing structuring of the region from becoming entirely dominated by great powers.