Russia in the Arctic

The Pomors – Russian settlers on the Kola peninsular sine the 11 th century

Wooden church architecture of the Russian North, 18 th century

A typical Pomor vessel

Russian colonization of Siberia, 17 th century

The issues: the past 500 years: Access to fisheries Navigation routes Security Mineral resources Population and ecology

Serious competition for the Arctic began in 20 th century Fisheries Coal in Svalbard Sea routes In WWI – key role of the Arctic in the Russian war effort 1918 – the North as a site of Western intervention in Russia Sovereignty problems  Priority of de facto control  Treaties (Russia-Britain, 1825, Russia-US, 1867)  Unilateral actions  Uniform legal norms

The Soviet Union made massive investments in the Arctic in 1920s-1980s  Setting and protecting the borders (application of the sectoral principle)  Economic development of Russia’s North  Creation of the Northern Fleet  Development of the Northern Sea Route  Development of air routes Strategic importance during WWII  Major military operations on the Kola peninsula  Vital supply routes connecting Russia with allies

The Cold War The Arctic gains even greater strategic importance for Russia  Nuclear deterrence  Operations of the Northern Fleet But also: continued economic development of Siberia, emergence of Russia as a key resource base for Europe

After the Cold War (late 1980s – 2010) Gorbachev’s New Thinking: Priority of international cooperation and international law 1990: Moscow signs UNCLOS Demilitarization begins Post-Soviet Russia  1990s: the Arctic is neglected, apart from continued production of oil and gas  2000s: renewal of Russia’s interest and policies

Russia’s current perceptions of the Arctic  The Arctic is an area of crucial importance for Russia  Sense of new economic opportunities in the Arctic  The concern that Russia’s interests may suffer from competing powers 2 key issues:  Arctic energy resources  The Northern Sea Route How can Russia guarantee its national interests in the Arctic?

The Northern Sea Route

Russia’s national interests in the Arctic, as defined by the 2008 Arctic Strategy:* 1. Socio-economic development —expand the resource base of Russia's Arctic zone, which is largely capable of supplying Russia's demand for hydrocarbon resources and other strategic raw materials; 2. Military security —ensure favorable conditions for Russia in the Arctic, to include the maintenance of the required combat capabilities of the force groupings of Russia's Armed Forces; 3. Environmental security —preserve and protect the natural environment of the Arctic, eliminate the environmental impacts of business activities in the context of increasing economic activity and global climate change; 4. International cooperation —ensure mutually beneficial bilateral and multilateral cooperation of Russia with other nations based on international treaties and agreements to which it is a party. *Yuri Morozov, The Arctic: The Next "Hot Spot" of International Relations or a Region of Cooperation? Carnegie Council, Dec. 16,

Strategic policy priorities: 1. Active engagement of Russia with the subarctic countries in order to demarcate the spaces of the region based on international law and mutual agreements, and resolve issues regarding international legal validation of the external boundary of the Russian Arctic zone; 2. Strengthening of bilateral relations and relations in regional organizations, including the Arctic Council and the Barents Euro-Arctic Council; good neighbor relations with other states; and intensification of interaction and cross-border cooperation in the effective management of natural resources and conservation of the natural environment in the Arctic; 3. Intensification of efforts by the subarctic countries to create a unified regional system for search and rescue, as well as for the prevention of man-made disasters and elimination of their effects, including the coordination of actions by rescue forces; 4. Facilitation of the organization and efficient use of transit and transpolar air routes in the Arctic, as well as the use of the NSR for international navigation in accordance with the international treaties of the Russian Federation.

In the sphere of military security—  establishment of a general-purpose force which include the Russian Armed Forces and the other forces and organizations in Russia's Arctic zone capable of providing military security for the country in the region;  refinement of the system for integrated monitoring of the situation in the Arctic, including monitoring of border crossing points and the Northern Supply Route;  establishment of a functioning coast guard system in Russia's Arctic zone;  increased interaction with the border agencies of neighboring states.

The Russian-Norwegian Barents Sea agreement of 2010