Russia's Potential Withdrawal from the Arctic Council Not Narrowed Down
The Arctic Council, originally formed in '96, is currently struggling to regain its full potential. Norway, now leading the group, is eager to revive its operations, but finding support from the other parties has been challenging.
"We've gotta keep all our foreign policy options on the table, including pulling out of the Arctic Council if it ain't serving our interests," Russian diplomat Korchunov stressed, adding the possibility of an exit if the council strays from their objectives.
The Arctic Council is a gathering of nations focused on cooperating in the Arctic region, particularly addressing environmental concerns. Its lineup includes Denmark (Greenland and the Faroe Islands), Norway, Iceland, Sweden, Finland, Canada, Russia, and the United States. Each country takes a turn leading the council every two years, with Russia taking the reigns in May 2021.
However, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in March 2022, some Western countries suspended their participation in the council's activities. With Norway stepping up to the chairmanship in May 2023, efforts have been made to kickstart ongoing projects and facilitate multilateral cooperation once more.
Established in '96, the council now operates with geopolitical tensions simmering beneath the surface. America, one of the members, faces a disadvantage due to its non-ratification of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, limiting its ability to legitimize maritime claims and resolve disputes within the council. Despite the ongoing challenges, the council continues to tackle Arctic-specific issues. While formal participation has been restored, operational hurdles linger due to broader geopolitical strife and institutional dependencies.
- With the Arctic Council's chairmanship passing to Norway in May 2023, the focus is on activating policy-and-legislation and facilitating cooperation to overcome the challenges stemming from geopolitical tensions.
- The ongoing disputes between Russia and Western countries have caused some members to suspend their participation, but the Arctic Council continues to address Arctic-specific issues, such as environmental concerns.
- The United States faces a disadvantage in the council due to its non-ratification of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which affects its ability to legitimize maritime claims and resolve disputes within the group.
- The Arctic Council, established in '96, has been operating under increased geopolitical tensions, with some members, like Russia, threatening to exit if the council strays from its objectives, such as addressing general news and politics related to the Arctic region.
