Modern Arctic as the Territory of Strategic Ambitions

Nowadays, as the polar ice rapidly melts, the changing environment and seascape provoke the struggle for new economic opportunities and strategic dominance in the Arctic, which is reflected in arctic strategies of the circumpolar states. The start of the Special Military Operation in 2022 partially blocked the institutes facilitating dialogue in the Arctic and emphasized the issues of defense and security in the relations between Russia and the Western countries. The Arctic is slowly breaking into two parts, i.e., the Arctic Council and Russia. This state of events does not satisfy the Russian interests and forces Russia to seek allies who can help utilize the resources of the Russian Arctic and the Northern Sea Route among the non-arctic observer countries in the Arctic Council. China that has proclaimed itself a ‘near-arctic state’ and has been implementing a multidimensional policy of scientific, ecological, and economic activity in the Arctic, stands out among these observer countries. Under the conditions of the activity within the Arctic Council framework coming to a halt, it is important for Russia to maintain and promote the dialogue with the friendly non-arctic countries (China and India), that is aimed at supporting development projects in the arctic zone of Russia and the Northern Sea Route. It appears reasonable to keep this dialogue bilateral, which should allow Russia to attract the possibilities of using the friendly states’ potential in the process of development in the Russian Arctic, while leaving the Russian participation in the Arctic Council on pause and not exacerbating the current situation in the region