Is It Possible to Continue Cooperating with Russia in the Arctic Council?

• Main Author: Koivurova, Timo
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2022
• Subjects: /dk/atira/pure/person/fieldofscience2010/5/13; Law; Arctic; Arctic Council
• Online Access: https://research.ulapland.fi/fi/publications/1fd98503-edd5-4db5-81d5-e5e62643c468

Russia’s armed invasion of Ukraine, which began on February 24, 2022, quickly ended all Arctic international cooperation. On March 3, the seven member states (A-7) of the Arctic Council announced their condemnation of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and that cooperation within the Arctic Council must now be paused, even as Russia serves currently as a chair of the Council. At the same time, the A-7 also expressed the importance of continued Arctic Council cooperation. Russia referred to the decision of the other member states on March 4 as “regrettable,” emphasizing that Arctic Council cooperation should be isolated from tensions elsewhere; the Russian chairmanship also stated that they will continue to implement their program domestically.