Russia Pursues Arctic Cooperation With India And Other Countries

Russia is holding what it described as highly productive discussions with India and China on cooperation in the Arctic region, a senior Russian Foreign Ministry official said on Thursday. Vladislav Maslennikov, Director of the Department of European Problems at the Russian Foreign Ministry, made the remarks at the fourth Arctic–Regions Forum, noting that interest among countries seeking engagement with Russia in the high latitudes is growing.

Maslennikov identified India and China as key partners in the emerging discussions, noting that both countries have shown interest in the Arctic agenda and possess resources that could support joint projects and initiatives. His comments come as Moscow seeks to expand international cooperation in the Arctic, including around economic activity, infrastructure and the Northern Sea Route.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had also recently pointed to interest from India, China and other countries in working with Moscow on Arctic cooperation and the use of the Northern Sea Route. Putin highlighted the route’s potential role in global logistics while stressing that Russia remains open to cooperation within the framework of international maritime law. He also referred to rising tensions in the Arctic and the wider Asia-Pacific region.

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The Arctic, generally defined as the region north of 66 degrees north latitude, contains extensive ice and freshwater resources and is home to around four million people, according to a parliamentary panel cited in the report. Most of the region falls within territories under the sovereignty of Arctic states, while indigenous communities account for roughly 10 per cent of the Arctic population.

India has also been strengthening its focus on polar affairs. In July, a parliamentary panel in New Delhi recommended that the government consider appointing a “polar ambassador” to give greater diplomatic visibility to India’s engagement with the Arctic and Antarctic regions. The panel argued that such an appointment could help project the importance of polar regions in India’s foreign policy and support a more effective approach to “polar diplomacy.”

The latest Russian remarks indicate growing scope for India-Russia engagement in Arctic affairs at a time when the region is gaining strategic and economic importance. Cooperation involving the Northern Sea Route could have implications for global logistics and connectivity, while India’s interest in polar research and diplomacy provides an additional area for engagement. Moscow’s emphasis on working with India, China and other interested countries comes amid broader international attention on the future of the Arctic.

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