Suchergebnisse

The author overviews the main results of Russia's chairmanship of the Arctic Council (AC, Council) in 2021-2023, analyses its relationship with domestic and international governance. Four main periods of the Russian chairmanship are defined. It is noted that due to the Ukrainian conflict, the Russian chairmanship was boycotted by Western countries. In the conditions of geopolitical instability, the Russian Federation managed to organise most of the planned events. During this period Russia concentrated on the infrastructure of the Northern Sea Route, the socio-economic development of the Arctic regions of the Russian Federation. However, due to the position of the Western countries, it was not possible for Russia to fully achieve and implement the scheduled activities. It negatively affected the work of the Organising Committee, representative ministries, departments, Arctic regions and scientific organisations. The course of the chairmanship was disorganized. May 2023 Russia remotely handed over the chairmanship of the Arctic Council to Norway, hoping to restore the former status. The Russian Federation believes that the problems of the Arctic region can be solved only through balanced and mutually beneficial international cooperation.

The Murmansk oblast, which turned 85 years old in May 2023, is the northwestern outpost of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. The Red Banner Order of Ushakov Northern Fleet is based on its territory, playing a major role in strengthening the country's defense capability. The article is the first attempt to analyze the stage of the first stage of implementation of the tasks laid down in the draft 20 Strategy for Developing the Russian Arctic Zone and Ensuring National Security through 2035, in relation to the Murmansk region. The author notes that the region is characterized by active socio-economic development. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of the situation and development of the seaport of Murmansk, the Murmansk transport hub and the Northern Sea Route, closed administrative-territorial entities among with the issue of assistance to the participants of the military operation as well as their families. Another objects of analysis are: activities of the Center in the construction of large-tonnage offshore structures, development of transport, energy infrastructure, , modernization of airport facilities, development of fisheries, science, personnel training, as well as initiatives for the development of tourist and recreational clusters in the territories of the oblast

It is noted that the Northern Sea Route (NSR) is characterised by the legal support of its maritime activities, the implementation of measures to ensure the safety of navigation, the growth of cargo traffic, the improvement of its manageability through the advancement of infrastructure, technologies, forecast estimates, human resources, and the elimination (weakening) of the imposed sanctions restrictions against the Russian Federation. The article analyses the NSR Development Plan until 2035 (dated August 1, 2022, №2115-r), highlights its features and novelty, and emphasises that it comprehensively and systematically reveals the priority areas for its development for the first time and implementation of its transport and logistics potential. It is noted that since the nuclear icebreaker fleet is already quite outdated today, it is necessary to commission new icebreakers. It is hoped that the NSR will strengthen the existing partnership relations of the Russian Federation with other states interested in its functioning. Attention is drawn to the influence of the NSR on the development of the territories of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation and the strengthening of security in the North. The article concludes that the problems of the NSR will require new technological solutions to reduce risks and increase the efficiency of its operation during the year

The Arctic has always been in a focus of close attention for the Russian leadership. The article examines the international aspects of the Arctic, analyzes the updated Arctic strategies and policies of countries (India, USA, Finland, the Faroe Islands, the European Union) and their improvements, and the withdrawal of several large European and Asian multinational companies from Arctic projects in the Russian Arctic after the start of a special military operation (SMO). It is emphasized that foreign states continue to increase their military presence in the Arctic, especially in its western part. The situation in the Arctic region was greatly complicated by the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO, which strengthened the Arctic capabilities of the alliance and created real military threats to Russia in the Arctic direction. Using the examples of the decisions of the Government of the Russian Federation in 2022, the authors analyze the problems of the development of the Russian Arctic, especially those related to the development of the Northern Sea Route and of some of the territories of the Russian Arctic zone for the next 15 years. The article focuses on the nature of the activities of the country's leadership, ministries and departments, legislative authorities, representatives of business and public organizations for the integrational development and assimilation of the Arctic, in light of the unfavorable international events of 2020–2022. It is noted that the real impact of the SMO on the Arctic region can be only determined by its final results.

The development of the Arctic region was strongly influenced by the international situation – on February 24, the Russian Federation launched a special military operation in Ukraine. The United States, Great Britain and the EU, a number of international and regional organisations condemned Russia's actions and imposed extended sanctions against it in the areas of politics, economics (transport, finance, trade, defense industry, aviation) and scientific research, which also had regional consequences. The article analyses the manifestation of sanctions against the Russian Federation in the first 4 months of 2022, as well as the measures taken by the Russian government to ensure sovereignty, economic, and technological independence. The author pays special attention to the situation in the Arctic Council, in which Denmark, Iceland, Canada, Norway, the USA, Finland and Sweden refused to take part in all meetings held under the chairmanship of the Russian Federation and on its territory.

The article focuses on status, structure and organization of the Arctic Council (AC, Council). It is noted that the AC is an international, regional structure, which is designed to promote cooperation in the Arctic in the field of environmental protection and sustainable development of the circumpolar regions. In the activities of the countries chaired by the Arctic Council, special attention is paid to the continuity of the Arctic agenda. The importance of the Strategic Plan of the Arctic Council for 2021‒2030 adopted in 2021 for the further improvement of AC activities is highlighted. The central part of the study is devoted to Russia's approaches to international cooperation in the AC and an analysis of the content of the Programme of the Russian Federation's 2021 to 2023 Chairmanship of the Arctic Council. The aforementioned includes such priorities as the population of the Arctic and the indigenous small-numbered peoples of the North; environmental protection and climate change; social and economic development in the region; strengthening the Arctic Council. The study also deals with the Main Action Plan, which covers all the countries of the AC and areas of its activities. The article draws attention to the risks and threats that may arise during the period of the Russian Chairmanship. It is concluded that the urgent problems of this region can be solved only through balanced and mutually beneficial international cooperation in the economic and social fields, in the field of ecology, development of indigenous peoples, cooperation in scientific research, Arctic tourism, emergencies in the region.

The article examines Norway's Arctic strategy and the country's policy in the field of defence and security. It is noted that Oslo, among the countries of the Arctic Council, is the leader in the development and further improvement of strategies in the Arctic, taking into account the peculiarities of the country and its northern territories. The country is implementing one of the most innovative economic strategies in the region, developing high-tech sectors of the economy, reducing its dependence on the export of hydrocarbon raw materials, improving the administrative-territorial division of the country in the interests of developing the northern provinces. Attention is paid to the development of the industrial sector of the economy, transport (primarily port) infrastructure, scientific and educational complexes, Arctic tourism and recreational business, migration policy and support of the indigenous population. The author pays special attention to Norway's place in NATO, noting that the North of Norway is becoming one of Scandinavia's most militarised regions. It is emphasised that this greatly hinders international cooperation with the closest neighbours, primarily with Russia. It is necessary to seek to improve relations between our countries, even in the face of the current friction at the interstate level in matters of security and severe contradictions in the area of the Spitsbergen archipelago.

The article notes that in the period of preparation for the chairmanship of the Arctic Council (2021–2023), in order to further develop the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, new strategic documents, a package of benefits and preferences for business development were prepared and approved, measures were taken for the sustainable development of indigenous peoples, and to increase the role of science in Arctic research. The author draws attention to some unsolved problems of socio-economic development of the Arctic region (outflow of the population, especially young people; shortcomings of the organization of the shift method of work and centralized coordination and control of state orders and supplies to the population of hard-to-reach Arctic regions; violation of environmental requirements). It is emphasized that Russia assumes the post of chairman of the Arctic Council at a difficult time: the coronavirus pandemic, political tensions in relations with the West, including on issues of management and security of the Arctic, economic sanctions from the Arctic states, which creates certain difficulties in the activities in the Arctic direction. The author concludes that the developed program, the plan of main events, the activity of ministries and departments in the next 2 years will allow us to successfully cope with the chairmanship, show our foreign colleagues all the best that is available in the Russian Far North, and contribute to the strengthening of the Arctic Council.

The article reveals the real and potential threats to the national security of the Russian Federation in the Arctic region from the North Atlantic bloc. Special attention is paid to the study of the strengthening of the military presence in the Arctic of the Arctic states and other countries of the alliance, the main directions of discrediting the activities of the Russian Federation in the Arctic by our geopolitical opponents. The article analyzes the composition and direction of multinationnal military exercises that contribute to the growth of conflict potential in the region. It is noted that the North of Norway is becoming one of the most militarized regions of Scandinavia. It is concluded that the activation of NATO in the Far North can lead to a violation of the balance of forces and relations between states in the security sphere, negatively affect the course and results of the Russian presidency of the Arctic Council in 2021–2023.The measures of Russia to strengthen its defense capability in the Arctic direction, protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity are revealed. The importance of using the Recommendations of the participants of the expert dialogue on reducing the risks of military confrontation between Russia and NATO in Europe, which reflect specific measures to defuse military tensions on the European continent, including in the Arctic, is emphasized.

The Arctic has always been in the field of close attention of the Russian leadership. This was especially true in 2020. This year, a number of important strategic planning documents were adopted that define the country's state policy in the Arctic zone for the next 15 years. These are: The Fundamentals of State policy in the Arctic Zone until 2035 and the Strategy for the development of the Russian Federation's Arctic zone and ensuring national security for the period up to 2035. In parallel, work continued improving the federal authorities activities on the exploration and development of the Arctic. New members of the State Commission for Arctic development approved including their powers expanded. The newly formed Ministry of the Russian Federation for development of the Far East and the Arctic has begun its activity. Simultaneously, the Government decided on the extension of the Far East development institutions competence in the Arctic zone. The attention of the public was drawn to the planned major infrastructure projects in all the subjects of the Russian Arctic. The author, drawing attention to a wide list of planned major arctic infrastructure projects in all the subjects of the Russian Arctic zone, expresses doubts about the possibility of their implementation, taking into account the existing and potential difficulties. The article points to the need to use the experience in the advancement and development of the Arctic, acquired in 2020, during the Russian presidency of the Arctic Council in 2021–2023.

The article is devoted to the 200th anniversary of the discovery of Antarctica under the guidance of 2nd rank captain F. Bellingshausen and lieutenant M. Lazarev. Analyzing the peculiarities of Antarctica, the author notes that this is one of а few regions of our planet, the resources and territory of which are used by various states jointly and exclusively for peaceful purposes for the benefit of science. The article analyzes in detail the celebration of this anniversary in Russia and foreign countries, while paying special attention to the thematic focus of socio-political and scientific events. Considerable attention is paid to the study of the region by Russia and the European States. Interstate cooperation between countries in Antarctica is aimed at finding effective solutions to global problems facing humanity, such as environmental pollution, climate change and its consequences, and the loss of components of biological diversity. It is concluded that despite the fact that Antarctica is traditionally one of the strategic regions for ensuring the national interests and security of our state, the Russian Federation in its state policy in comparison with the Arctic, does not always respond promptly to the existing challenges, does not pay enough attention to improving the research base and living conditions of polar explorers, which negatively affects Russia's positions in Antarctica.