Russia’s Arctic Strategy: Energy, Infrastructure and Security

The Arctic, traditionally perceived as a remote and inaccessible territory, has acquired key geopolitical and economic importance in recent decades, especially for Russia, for which this region remains a zone of strategic interests. Melting ice caused by climate change is opening up new prospects for transport routes, access to resources and security, prompting Moscow to reconsider its Arctic policy with an emphasis on military presence, hydrocarbon development and the development of the Northern Sea Route. Governance of the Arctic is formally carried out by eight circumpolar states within the framework of the Arctic Council, but its mandate is limited to environmental issues and sustainable development, excluding the military-political sphere. In recent years, the influence of extra-regional actors has been growing, in particular China, which, positioning itself as an “almost Arctic state,” seeks to strengthen its presence in the region. Despite statements of commitment to scientific and economic cooperation, China’s activity raises concerns among Arctic countries, exacerbating competition and potentially destabilizing the situation in high latitudes.