In response to what Moscow labels the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s militarization of the Arctic, Russia has significantly restructured its Arctic policies. Russia has expanded the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation and enacted symbolic legislative and institutional changes to cement federal control and legitimize future territorial claims in the Arctic. Moscow created a Maritime Collegium to preserve Russia’s status of a great naval power, signaling Russia’s intent to reclaim its imperial maritime stature. The Kremlin’s Arctic policy underscores defense supremacy, resource extraction, population incentives, and expansion of the Northern Sea Route, while downplaying ecological integrity.
Russia Continues Conservative Pivot in Arctic (Part One) – Jamestown
