Newsweek (USA): Russia says the Ukrainian crisis should not penetrate the Arctic, but NATO says it has already penetrated there
The countries of the Arctic Council decided to boycott future negotiations in Russia because of the Russian special operation in Ukraine, writes Newsweek. From May 2021 until May 2023, Russia is its chairman. It also includes Finland, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, the USA, Canada and Denmark.
Russia's Arctic representative told Newsweek that international tensions over the Ukrainian crisis should not spill over into this northern region bordered by the United States. But recent diplomatic and military moves by Washington and its allies show that this normally calm area has already turned into the cutting edge of the current crisis.
The conflict, which Russian President Vladimir Putin calls a "special military operation," has been going on for five weeks. The first signs of diplomatic success in the negotiations between Moscow and Kiev are accompanied by incessant clashes between the two adversaries and determined efforts by the United States and other supporters of Ukraine to isolate Russia politically and economically.
One such step taken this month was unprecedented. We are talking about the suspension of the activities of the Arctic Council, which consists of eight countries (Russia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and the United States), and which has recently been chaired by Russia.
Nikolai Korchunov, who is the Russian ambassador-at-large and a senior official in the Arctic Council, told Newsweek that Moscow considers the decision "regrettable" and noted that it contradicts the apolitical nature of this intergovernmental organization established more than 25 years ago.
"Issues related to military security are definitely excluded from the powers of the council," Korchunov said. — All its constituent and strategic documents state that the Arctic should remain a territory of peace, stability and creative cooperation. Therefore, such a unique format should not be exposed to side effects from some extra-regional events."
He noted that the temporary suspension of the activities of the Arctic Council, "initiated by Western states, may lead to the accumulation of risks and security problems in the region, which the council effectively solved."
"In the current circumstances, it is fundamentally important to preserve the project activities of the Arctic Council so that after a pause, cooperation can continue in the same way as we unanimously and timely did it in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic," Korchunov added.
He said that Russia would use the pause to "reorient the mechanism of its presidency of the council to meet domestic needs in this region." All events of the Russian chairmanship, except for official meetings of the Arctic Council and its subsidiary bodies, are planned to be held in accordance with the schedule, Korchunov added.
He stated that in the light of the weakening of diplomatic mechanisms, in no case should direct confrontation be allowed in this region of the world. "Russia firmly believes that there is no potential for conflict in the Arctic," the Russian representative said.
Speaking about the existing civil strife, Korchunov stressed: "International law clearly stipulates that the rights of coastal and other states create a solid basis for cooperation in solving various issues, including such sensitive issues as the delimitation of the continental shelf in the Arctic Ocean and the prevention of unregulated fishing in the international waters of the central Arctic Ocean."
Korchunov noted that "the firm commitment of all Arctic coastal states to the principle of "orderly settlement" of any possible disputes and overlapping claims led to the adoption of the Ilulissat Declaration in 2008, and this commitment was confirmed on its 10th anniversary. Subsequently, this led to the signing of a corresponding fishing agreement in 2018 by all five coastal Arctic states, China, Japan, South Korea and the EU."
Nevertheless, in recent years there has been an increase in military activity in the Arctic. This trend has intensified in the run-up to and with the beginning of the Russian conflict with Ukraine last month.
At the end of January, when tensions increased due to Washington's warnings and Moscow's denials about the entry of Russian troops into Ukraine, which began a month later, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a series of exercises involving all fleets, including the Northern One, during which tasks were fulfilled to ensure the safety of important sea routes in the Barents Sea.
For Russia, which has the longest coastline in the Arctic, this region is important both strategically and economically.
"The Russian Arctic not only produces over 11% of our national GDP and provides more than 20% of exports," Korchunov said. —There are also over two and a half million people living there, including the indigenous peoples of the North."
"Russia accounts for almost a third of the territory, more than half of the population, almost half of the coast and about 70% of the economic activity of the Arctic region," Korchunov added. "Therefore, there is no alternative for Moscow to its sustainable development."
He also spoke about the plans of Moscow's chairmanship in the Arctic Council, noting that it "aims to improve the well-being and quality of life of people in the Arctic, including indigenous peoples, to adapt the region to global climate change, preserve Arctic biodiversity, ensure prudent and safe marine activities and socio-economic development, to find solutions to to ensure global energy security, to promote economic cooperation in the Arctic and to strengthen the Arctic Council."
The Arctic is also extremely important for the seven countries bordering it, five of which are members of NATO, and the other two (Finland and Sweden) are the closest partners of this military alliance operating under the leadership of the United States.
Two weeks ago, NATO launched one of its largest exercises, the Cold Response 2022, in Norway. It was planned even before the start of the Russian special operation in Ukraine, but Alliance Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who attended these maneuvers last week, linked these events together.
"Russia's special operation in Ukraine has become a turning point," said Stoltenberg, whose words were conveyed to Newsweek by one of the official representatives of NATO. "This is a new norm for European security, as well as for the security of the Arctic."
Stoltenberg called NATO the Arctic alliance. Speaking about the Arctic, he said that this territory "is of strategic importance for the security of the entire Euro-Atlantic region, and is very important for communication lines between North America and Europe."
"It is also a region of increasing strategic rivalry," Stoltenberg said. — In the last two years, we have witnessed a significant increase in Russian military activity there. Russia has restored old Soviet bases in the Arctic. The region has become a testing ground for the latest Russian weapons systems. This is the place where the strategic submarine fleet of Russia is located."
"Russia's military buildup is the most serious challenge to the stability and security of allies in the Far North," the Secretary General stressed.
Shortly after the start of the exercises, Russia published a notice for pilots (NOTAM) that Russian live firing exercises would take place to the west of the NATO maneuvers in the Norwegian Sea.
The United States has also organized a series of Arctic-oriented exercises in its northernmost territory, Alaska, whose western border is just 55 miles from Russia's eastern borders. Examples of military activity last week were the exercises "Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center 22-02" and "Polar Force 22-4". Earlier in March, the joint US-Canadian maneuvers "Arctic Frontier 2022" and "Operation Noble Defender" took place, as well as the exercises of the US Navy ICEX.
Announcing the suspension of cooperation within the framework of the Arctic Council, the United States and other members of this association issued a joint statement in which they noted that they remain "confident in the enduring value of the Arctic Council for circumpolar cooperation, and express support for this institution and its work." They stressed that "they are responsible to the population of the Arctic, including its indigenous peoples, who make a great contribution to the important work of the council and receive considerable benefits from it."
The statement notes that "the key principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity based on international law have long been at the heart of the work of the Arctic Council, which is currently chaired by Russia." However, seven countries stressed that "Russia, with its unprovoked operation in Ukraine, has most flagrantly violated these principles."
The editors of Newsweek asked the State Department and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) to comment on what was happening, but at the time of the article's release, they had not received a response.
Speaking about Russia, Korchunov said that due to new risks and opportunities, "the strategic importance of the Arctic has noticeably increased." "The attention of many interested parties is now focused on the Arctic as a global climate cuisine, its unique but fragile ecosystem. It is a treasure trove of the cultural heritage of indigenous peoples, and of course, a region with enormous economic opportunities," he said.
"The Arctic faces numerous challenges, but it is important not only to pay attention to its vulnerability, but also to remember the region's ability to self—repair and the opportunities for sustainable development," Korchunov added.
At a time when President Joe Biden is pursuing a policy of combating climate change, Korchunov notes Moscow's confidence that "the Arctic has a huge potential for generating clean energy, searching and developing deposits of the most important rare earth metals and minerals, as well as implementing innovative solutions that will help accelerate the global transition to sustainable energy."
But cooperation has stalled due to the crisis in Ukraine, and the future of multilateral efforts is in great doubt.
Korchunov said that Russia "confirms its commitment to close and constructive cooperation with all members of the Arctic Council, with permanent participants, observers and other interested non-regional partners."
"We are ready for a long—term partnership in this region with any country, be it a member of the Arctic Council or any other state, in the interests of its sustainable development and the well-being of its inhabitants, including indigenous peoples," Korchunov stressed.
"Russia is convinced that the spirit of cooperation inherent in the Arctic Council will help strengthen trust and mutual understanding," he added. "The Council should remain a solid mechanism for peaceful and mutually beneficial cooperation, despite geopolitical tensions elsewhere, acting in the interests of a sustainable and secure future for the entire Arctic region."
