He could, for example, have said that the right of russia to the Arctic cannot be doubted, but of course he said part of the Arctic.  But also the phrase ‘cannot be called into question’ implies something about the process which would determine such a right.  And although the sentence sounds, in advance of UN discusions and resolutions, uncompromising, this is, in fact, a potentially entirely reasonable opinion, in the liberal sense of the word.

Again, much will depend on what the UN eventually decides. 

Chilingarov also refers to the new ‘погранзастав’ – stronger, border?, weaker boundary line? - on the NSR.

The Russian Ambassador dismissed these remarks as coming from another planet but is it possible to detect a slight hint of annoyance from Canada about the Barents Sea agreement so that all of a sudden the Norwegians have discovered a new enthusiasism for running discussion about drilling in the Arctic through the council. 

Perhaps they should have thought of that a couple of weeks before when they were boasting about their mastery of secrecy.

Norway was also keen for China to have greater representation on the Arctic Council which, I cannot help but think, is not a policy the Russians will push with great urgency.  Only this week, a Chinese representative from the Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute described the Arctic’s resources as ‘global’, while also indicating that China is stepping up its Arctic research program.

This follows on from a recent emergency exercise which involved the use of an ice-breaker to provide power to the port of Dudinka in the event of a power failure from regular municipal supplies.

This would also appear to be the purpose of the floating nuclear power plant (see here) a project, in a way, along with the demonstrable need to supply power to ports in this unorthodox way, highlights the difficulties involved in creating a viable infrastructure for the NSR.  Dudinka is described in the articles as, ‘world’s only Arctic seaport’.

Now it is reported that ‘В начале лета спецрейс атомного ледокола Росатома’ – an atomic ice-breaker, a specialist one, will be dispatched early summer.

It is not only the ice-breakers that are specialist.  Polar station 37 is, possibly, one of the edge stations, right on the cusp of the area where the ice-meets the sea.  I am no expert on this but I have a suspicion that this is so.  (This needs some comfimation except note: ‘По словам руководителя станции СП-37, запланированные исследования по изучению взаимодействия океана и атмосферы’ – i.e., the station head is explaining the station will conduct studies into the interaction of the ocean and the atmosphere to determine, I think, something to do with the exhalation of carbon dioxide.

The ice-flow on which it is based on getting smaller.

I particularly like the following, ‘Технология создания и поддержания деятельности дрейфующих станций «Северный полюс» по праву считается российским “ноу-хау”.’

Consider the following:

In addition to this post on the role and place of military forces and the interesting debate with Russia’s special representative from the Foreign Ministry, whicht I covered here, these comments in иноСМИ.ru by journalist, blogger and commentator Mark Adomanis are interesting.  Adomanis is described in some quarters as a ‘pro-Putin commentator’ and certainly his comments on the recent Norway-Russia agreement are in this vein, whatever that might mean.  He writes that, ‘this agreement is further proof that the Russian may well lead to the West constructive dialogue’ regarding the outstanding Arctic issues.  His view is that Russia is merely acting like any state would and that, ‘I think that the agreement with Norway beautifully demonstrates that no matter how you evaluate the Kremlin, it is perfectly able to defend [Russia's] interests peacefully and rationally’.

This is an interesting question.  Based on the lengthy interview with the Foreign Ministry Special representative I would have to agree that there is nothing particularly weird or scary about Russia’s stance on the Arctic.  It follows entirely the legal processes available and their diplomacy vis-a-vis Norway seems fairly balanced.  Then there are, for example, proposals to harmonize Russian and Canadian satellite monitoring systems. 

So far, I think I would have to agree with Adomanis: he is broadly correct that Russia behaves just like any other ‘realist’ state would in relation to Arctic issues, though you sometimes see the odd, more geopolitical opinion.

The main difference, I think, is the way in which national myths function.  In Russia these play quite a strong role in legitimating the national development project, and perhaps even the personal power of a figure like Putin, while, though I can’t say for sure, I expect the average Canadian is slightly less concerned.

This last comment is somewhat flippant as there are Canadians who are genuinly worried about an expansionist Russian presence in the Arctic.

Much, I think, will depend on what the UN eventually decides.

The rescue also involved Mi-8 helicopters and these too were involved in rescue operations from the ice in recent days.

These are the kinds of boats that are needed and this report announces that the Amur shipbuilding company is to build a 7 megawatt ice-breaker and that it is continuing to work on ‘по корвету нового поколения’ – a new generation of corvettes for shipping in the Far East. 

It is not clear to me whether this is the same class of small ice-breakers being built by the Almaz shipbuilding company, the first of which was launched earlier in the year and whose purpose is partially to assist in the clearing up of oil spills.

BP are sponsoring the Arctic Bird Library at the moment, a very useful resource yet the Gulf of Mexico incident is casting a small shadow over proceedings in the Arctic.  This is one which will persist in some form as an influence on developments but which is unlikely to dominate everything.

The Financial Times in the UK uses the metaphor of a ‘thaw‘ in relations to charactarize events and argues that a commitment to a legal solutions will help Russia’s interests. 

Indeed it will, but Putin’s identification with the white bear, the real master of the Arctic, is international relations symbolism and not only environmentalism, as noted by the Moscow Post (yesterday) and the realist commentary on policy continues while Medvedev is dining in the European capitals. 

Markep.ru reports on the activities of Roscosmos and its draft plan for satellite monitoring of the Arctic under the headline, ‘Russia is going to take the Arctic from space’ while the Strategic Culture Foundation goes back to the 2020 document which envisages ”troops, military formations and bodies in the Arctic zone of Russia, capable of military security in the various conditions of the military-political situation.”

Putin may have been in the Arctic protecting polar bears but as he added, ‘Геополитические и самые глубинные интересы России связаны с Арктикой’ – i.e., geopolitical and deepest interests of Russia are connected with the Arctic’: defense, security, economy and transport.

What is the meaning of this visit.  The Moscow Post writes, ‘Очевидно, что одна из целей визита Путина заключалась в том, чтобы показать соседям, кто здесь главный…’ – i.e., ‘of course, the main goal of the visit consists of demonstrating to the neighbours, who rules here …’

In this publication ex-Governor of Murmansk Yuri Evdomikov stresses that he needs to know how the disputed area has been divided, horizontally or vertically, because the northern part is empty and the southern part resource rich.

novopol argues that the agreement needs to be seen in the context of the wider issues of the Arctic.  And Yuri Evdomikov, when asked about this and relations with Canada, thinks that the joint cooperation can be seen as ‘ единая политика’ – one politics.  And novopol expresses confidence that Russia’s diplomatic efforts are working well on all fronts.  Indeed, the joint press statement reprinted in the national portal природа-россии notes that, ‘The parties welcomed the understanding reached by them in connection with the presentation of Russia and Norway to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf of documentation on the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles’.

Experts are keen to stress that this agreement does not affect the interests of third parties.  All parties will hope that the remaining details are sorted out and the joint initiatives work well.  Nenashev, from United Russia, who was recently critical of journalists who failed to get behind the Arctic policy, and who was part of the delegation to Norway, is now arguing that the Russian Navy must play a vital role in supporting any economic development plans.  United Russia rep. in the Duma states that Russia will continue to pursue its geopolitical interests in the Arctic (from the United Russia website).