scholarly journals Norwway’s Arctic security policy: agenda of 2019

Author(s):  
Andrei Andreevich Kovalev

The goal of this article consists in comprehensive analysis of the domestic and foreign security policy of Norway in the regions of Norwegian Arctic and Northern Norway. This work explores the geographical peculiarities and economy of the regions; questions of international cooperation, impacting the domestic policy as a whole and Arctic policy in particular; Norway’s military interests and military presence of NATO and the United States in the region of Norwegian Arctic. Attention is given to the relations between Norway and Russia, since they influence the overall balance between countries in the Arctic region. The conducted analysis demonstrates that Arctic region is strategically important for Norway from the perspectives of both, domestic and foreign policy. Norway plans to pay attention to respect nation’s sovereignty, which is necessary for successful development of the region, its economy, security, and conducting scientific research in the Arctic. Norway’s Arctic policy is closely tied to relations with Russia and NATO member-states, and its further development on this vector can play a positive role for the entire global community. Carrying out dual policy with regards to Russia, Norway welcomes the strengthening of military presence of the NATO countries in the region.                                                          

Author(s):  
Andrei Andreevich Kovalev

This article explores the key stages of the development of U.S. policy with regards to Arctic Region. The goal is set to outline the fundamental interests of the United States in the Arctic, as well as analyze the actions aimed at their achievement. The article examines the main priorities in U.S. Arctic policy, namely the protection and preservation of resources and ecosystem in the Arctic Region, scientific study of climatic changes, peculiarities of economic development of Alaska, and national security interests of the state. The questions of interaction of Arctic states with regards to defense cooperation become increasingly relevant. Consideration of the mid-term and long-term prospects of U.S. Arctic policy allowed the author focusing attention on the news aspects of U.S. government actions. Maritime capabilities of the United States in the Arctic waters are views in the context of modern tendencies. The author attempted to trace the prospects for expansion of U.S. influence in the Arctic Region based on the current agenda of 2019.


Author(s):  
Oleksandr Horobets ◽  

The article analyzes the evolution of China's Arctic policy, which has expanded over three decades from individual polar research to observer status in the Arctic Council and the existence of a state Arctic strategy. China and Russia have established mutually beneficial cooperation in the Arctic region in such conditions, when in many areas there are fundamental contradictions between the countries. The West did not have a long-term strategy capable of responding to current security challenges, including in the Arctic. When Russia tried to regain lost positions on the world stage in 2007-2008, China became an increasingly influential player in the world. If before the Arctic had been outside the lines of rivalry for decades, the question of the Far North as an arena of military competition began to take first place. China has become a long-term threat to both the United States and Russia. In previous years, with the help of the China, Moscow had the opportunity to receive the necessary investments and technologies for large-scale Arctic projects. The more Beijing attempts to establish itself as an influential player in the Arctic, the more the threat to other Arctic countries will grow. The Russian Federation has positioned itself as a leader in the region. The country's policy was aimed at strengthening this status through regional control and expansion of the military presence. This led to a response from the United States and NATO countries. In Russia it was assessed as a threat. The question arises as to what the strategy of the United States should be, and whether it will be possible to resist the costly arms race. If not, then the competition will be concentrated in the political and economic spheres. A particular aspect is the rapid militarization of the Arctic region after 2014, primarily due to changes in Russia's military strategy, which extends to the North. This has led to the tensions between the United States and Russia. China has not yet resorted to expand its military power in the Arctic. China's policy of economic and infrastructural influence is opposed to military methods. The effectiveness of Chinese non-military methods of influence is assessed


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-64
Author(s):  
A. V. Borisov ◽  
I. V. Rovinskaya

The article examines the development of the US Arctic policy which is reflected in the US strategic documents. The author examines the evolution of doctrinal purposes from those focusing on environmental issues and regional cooperation to those focusing on logistics, security and military infrastructure. The evolution of the US strategic documents is considered in the context of the activities of such actors as Russia, Canada, China and a number of international organizations in the Arctic region. Contradictions and existing and prospective areas of cooperation are noted. The author shows the immutability of the US key strategic guidelines of the United States aimed at securing the status of an Arctic power for the United States and ensuring the promotion and protection of the US interests in the region.


Author(s):  
Valerii Zhuravel

Based on the analysis of the military-political and operational situation in the Arctic region, the article reveals the actual and potential threats to the national security of the Russian Federation from the United States and the countries of the NATO bloc. The directions of strengthening the military presence in the Arctic of the Arctic states and other alliance countries are characterised. It is emphasised that the North of Norway is becoming one of the most militarised regions in Scandinavia. It is concluded that the activation of NATO in the High North may lead to a reconfiguration of relations in the security sphere. The article reveals the measures of the Russian Federation to strengthen the defence capability in the Arctic direction, protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and normalise the situation and relations between Russia and the United States.


Author(s):  
Pavel A. Anisimov ◽  

The article examines the main challenges to the national security of the Russian Federation in the Arctic region. In particular, the author analyzes the reasons for the behavioral patterns of Russia and the NATO countries in relation to the Arctic through the prism of a realistic paradigm in the theory of international relations. It is the comprehensive approach to the consideration of the Arctic situation that determines the novelty and relevance of the study. In connection with the discovery and development of large mineral deposits, the role of the Arctic region in modern world political processes has increased. Also, since the late 20th – early 21st century, the Arctic has been in the focus of increased attention of international actors due to its geopolitical importance. All this makes it a priority for Russia. The intensification of the economic activity of the Russian Federation in the Arctic, as well as the implementation of such projects as the Northern Sea Route, has become the cause of the growing tensions in the region. The United States and other NATO countries, whose geopolitical interests are affected, are not only strengthening their anti-Russian rhetoric, but also increasing their military presence. In turn, this is perceived by the Russian side as a strategic threat and leads to mirror measures, including the deployment of a military infrastructure and an increase in the number of military exercises. However, despite growing tensions in the Arctic, Russia has consistently demonstrated its readiness for open dialogue and cooperation with its Western partners.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 6-19
Author(s):  
V. F. Bogachev ◽  
S. Yu. Kozmenko ◽  
A. B. Teslya ◽  
A. A. Shchegolkova

The development of new technologies, reducing the economic and physical costs of access to the unique resources of the Arctic, has simultaneously identified a set of interrelated economic and geopolitical problems arising during the Arctic territory development. Therefore, the subject of research of the article is the problem of the Arctic communication system formation, without which the further development of the region is not possible. The authors tried to substantiate the priority directions of the development of the communication system of the Arctic region with the aim to ensure continuous mobile access to strategically significant resources of the region in the current economic and geopolitical tendencies. The article proves that the main task of developing the Arctic should be to ensure the sustainable development of the Arctic region, which can not be achieved without the formation of an adequate level of a system of transport communications which meets the set goals and objectives of the development of the territories. Limited resources with a significant amount of required initial capital investment require an informed choice of priority investment areas, “points of growth” of the system of communications formed. The main conclusion is that the provision of operational access to the strategic resources of the Arctic is impossible without further development of the transport communications system in the region, and first of all the marine transport infrastructure (in particular, the Northern Sea route). At the same time, the impact of the redistribution of traffic flows on various aspects of the region's livelihoods, including the labor market and the social sphere, requires a separate study.


Author(s):  
Ф. Х. Соколова ◽  
◽  
А. Е. Шапаров

The current international political agenda has seen a growing importance of the Arctic region, which in the last century remained on the periphery of world politics. The interest in the Arctic is clearly manifested in the global socio-political discourse, with national interests in this region being advanced not only by the Arctic states, but also by countries having no direct geographical connection with it. Based on the analysis of key strategic documents, this article presents the dynamics of the development of the US Arctic policy in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. It is demonstrated that Barack Obama’s and Donald Trump’s Arctic policies were interconnected and had common grounds, including the following: protection of the country’s national interests in the region; environmental priorities and ensuring sustainable development of the region; participation of indigenous peoples in the decision-making process concerning their interests; development of international cooperation; freedom of navigation; responsible management of the Arctic under the leadership of the United States. However, according to the authors, Obama’s and Trump’s Arctic policies had two significant differences. Firstly, Obama viewed the Arctic as a territory of cooperation and dialogue, while Trump, as an area of rivalry and competition. Secondly, in Obama’s policy, the ecological component was more pronounced, while Trump primarily focused on the country’s economic interests. In general, the two presidents’ Arctic policies were in line with the corresponding foreign policies of the Democratic and Republican Parties. Thus, it can be predicted that Joe Biden’s Arctic policy will be a continuation of Obama’s policy.


Author(s):  
Elena S. Novikova ◽  
◽  
Anna V. Kripak ◽  

The article is devoted to the consideration of the reasons and a number of areas of cooperation between Russia and China in the Arctic region. The importance of this region for Russia and China is analyzed. The advantages of the Arctic for the two countries in terms of territory, economy, and politics are revealed. The conclusion is made about the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and the exacerbation of the crisis of political and economic relations between China, Russia, and the United States.


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