russia’s policy towards arctic territories 21.05

Russia’s policy towards Arctic territories


Official paper «Fundamentals of the Russian Federation's state policy in the Arctic for the period till 2020 and Beyond» (2008)

establishes the following key features of the Arctic Region

remoteness from the main industrial centers;

high resource consumption and the dependence of economic activities and livelihoods of the population from fuel supplies, food and essential goods from other Russia’s regions;

low stability of ecological systems and their dependence even from minor anthropogenic effects.


A comprehensive socio-economic development of the Russian Arctic;

The development of science and technology;

Creation of a modern information and telecommunication infrastructure;

To ensure environmental safety; International cooperation in the

Arctic; Military security, defense and

protection of the state border of the Russian Federation in the Arctic.

Priorities:

Official paper «The development strategy of the Russian Arctic and national security for the period until 2020» (2013) aims to fulfill earlier adopted state policy fundamentals

Putin's vision

Long-term savings account. The Arctic is a key source of resources for future generations. It must be protected;

Arctic resources should have alternative supply routes in the context of the ongoing conflict with the West;

The territorial integrity of Russia is a key value.

NOTE: place of Arctic issues in the political line is very flexible.

Putin's view background

Short-term occupation of the northern Russian ports during the First World War and the Revolution (12 thousand soldiers under British command were deployed in the Murmansk and Arkhangelsk in 1918 and 1919 years);

Soviet experience in the centralized development of the industrial potential of the Arctic territories (the most successful projects were: Vorkuta, Norilsk and Novy Urengoy);

Controversial in terms of benefits agreement concluded by the former president Medvedev with Norway over the waters and shelf of the Barents Sea.

How Putin’s vision is provided

Militarization. Capacity of hard power (the return of Soviet power) in the Arctic;

Isolationism. The policy of deterrence towards soft power of other Arctic states. Restrictions on the activities of foreign NGOs and associations of small nations;

Corporatism. Large corporations replace functions of the state (as they were understood in the USSR) in the Arctic territories. Such corporation as Rosneft and Novatek take on more and more responsibilities in the development of the Arctic, instead they receive more freedom of action in foreign and domestic markets.

For information. The separation of the Barents Sea with Norway

Document: Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Kingdom of Norway on Maritime Delimitation and Cooperation in the Barents Sea and the Arctic Ocean. Date of ratification of the Treaty: 15 September 2010

Result: According to the agreement the disputed territory was divided equally between the parties, that is, Russia received 87.5 thousand km2.

Norway and Russia finally settled the

question of the disputed maritime areas of the

Barents Sea. The dispute lasted for 40 years

For information. Maps of territories

The UN adopted version Positions of the parties

Russian public opinion towards the Agreement

PRO The settlement of a large section of the

Norwegian-Russian maritime border (1,700 km);

This is a necessary part for the implementation of the UN proposal of the Russian Federation in 2001 to recognize the Russian Arctic territories - 1 million 200 thousand square meters (around the Lomonosov Ridge);

The territories that have been transferred to Norway were originally controversial. Thus was the settlement of the territorial conflict;

А moratorium on the development of oil and gas deposits on the Arctic continental shelf was removed, and Russia won the right to develop hydrocarbon deposits in a previously disputed territory;

The agreement guaranteed the absence of rights of third countries on the production and use of resources in the disputed territory.

Contra 60% of Russian fish catch is carried out in

areas that have departed Norway; Ratification of the treaty will trigger other

powers to raise the territorial claims; Ratification of the agreement will trigger

other powers to declare territorial claims; Waiver of rights to the waters around

Spitsbergen; In 2013, it was found that part of the

continental shelf departed to Norway is rich with oil.

Extraction of oil and minerals

In the sphere of socio-economic development policy aims at expanding the resource base of the Russian Arctic;

Arctic zone of the Russian Federation is considered as a strategic resource base of the country's development in the foreseeable future;

As for its further development, the Russian Arctic will increasingly be involved in international cooperation.

Extraction of oil and minerals

Arctic economic development was hit by the sanctions

Under sanctions, for example, Exxonmobil, which is actively boosted exploration in the Russian North has terminated its relationship with the companies "Gazprom", "Gazpromneft", "Lukoil", "Surgutneftegas" and "Rosneft“.

Biggest offshore project of Gazprom – Shtokman field gas field – was postponed.

Military security, defense and protection

From official documents: «ensure favorable operational regime in the Russian Arctic region, including the maintenance of the required combat potential of troops (forces) general purpose of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, other troops, military formations and agencies in the region».

The military part of the strategy becomes more important for now. But state resources are reduced.

Building modern infrastructure

Northern latitudinal road

and railway

Creating new Arctic seaport (a

priority site - near city of

Murmansk). New port has to

maintain ships with a

displacement of up to 300

thousand tons

Start of production of a new series of

nuclear-powered icebreakers

called «Siberia»

Widespread use of concessions on the model

«Build – Transfer – Operate»

The development of the Northern Sea Route (NSR)

According to official paper «Fundamentals of the Russian Federation's state policy in the Arctic for the period till 2020 and Beyond» (2008) Northern Sea Route is not mentioned as a clear aim, only as a national priority.

«…assisting in the organization and effective use of transit and cross-polar air routes in the Arctic, as well as in the use of the Northern Sea Route for international shipping under the jurisdiction of the Russian Federation and in accordance with international treaties of the Russian Federation».


Administration of the Northern Sea Route was recreated in March of 2013 in order to organize the navigation of vessels, to ensure the safety of navigation and protection of the marine environment from pollution from ships in the waters of the NSR.

Northern Sea Route Transit cargo

According to experts, the fall in traffic is due to several factors: the decline in the profitability of oil production in the Arctic at the fall in oil prices, Western sanctions and doubts about the financial capabilities of Russia to operate the SMP.

The volume of transit cargo

2013 2014 20151180 000 tons

(other sources: 1 355 897 tons)

274 000 tons 39 000 tons

Northern Sea Route Total cargo

The bulk of the traffic along the Northern Sea Route (up to 85-90%) now constitute the "Northern delivery", delivery of oil and gas resources of the Arctic and inter-port cabotage.

2014 2015

3 982 000 tons 5 431 700 tons

Source of data: https://fedstat.ru/indicator/51479


Infrastructural development of the NSR is scheduled for a public-private partnership.

The primary users the Northern Sea Route in Russia today are the "Norilsk Nickel", "Gazprom", "Lukoil", "Rosneft", "ROSSHELF". Potentially - "Novatek» (Yamal LNG).

The aggregate throughput capacity of port facilities along the Northern Sea Route is planned to more than double in the next 7-10 years.


There is no doubt that the Northern Sea Route will be used for transit:

a seasonal alternative to the Suez Canal;

focus on exclusively raw materials (this is what we extract ourselves from ourselves and are taking to the east);

all plans for the containers shipping are on the horizon in 2025.

For more information please use http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/2655113

The Northern Sea Route and international law

Most interested in the use of the Northern Sea Route foreign states in favor of giving it an international status and for removal from the national jurisdiction of Russia. They want The Northern Sea Route to be opened to free navigation. The United States, in particular, insist on the principle of free navigation, historically regarded as an essential component of their national marine strategy.

Priority partners of Russia in the Arctic

Asia:

China

South Korea

Japan

Europe:

Norway

France

Germany

The ecological themes

In May 2015 the International Maritime Organization (The UN) has completed work on the Polar Code, which will come into force in 2017. It will tighten the requirements for vessels operated in the Arctic, ban the discharge of oil and petroleum products into the sea, restrict other harmful emissions marine environment. According to specialists, this is only the beginning for the elimination of legal collisions in maritime law and its improvement with regard to swimming in the Arctic waters.

Climate change. Will it bring more opportunities for the Arctic? Will it harm the Arctic?

Russia has to find it’s balance between economic development and environment protection.

Social protection and demographic policy

The Russian Federation is aimed at improving the quality of life of the indigenous population and social conditions of economic activities in the Arctic.

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International Institute for Political Expertise (IIPE). Since 2003

Government Relations agency «Minchenko GR Consulting». Since 2007

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Evgeny MinchenkoPolitical analyst. Consultant. Lobbyist.

Graduate of Chelyabinsk State University in History (1993), Russian Academy of State Service in Political Psychology (1997).In 1993 began career as a political consultant. 2004-2011 - advisor to the Chairman of State Duma Anti-Corruption Committee, expert of Security and CIS Countries Committees;Since 2010 to 2012 - member of Public Council in the Ministry of Industry and Trade and Expert Council of the Ministry of Economic Development. Since 2014 - member of Public Council in the Ministry of Energy.

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