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By: Bogdan Koutsenko

Key Takeaways

• Russia positions itself as a benevolent actor and a reliable partner in the Arctic.  
• The US, Canada, Sweden, and other Western powers are portrayed as malign and reactive, responding militarily to Russia’s more proactive, human-centric approach. 
• Aide to Vladimir Putin, Nikolai Patrushev, described the Northern Sea Route, the backbone of Russia’s Arctic transportation network, as a “national treasure”, not only for national self-interest but for world trade more broadly. 
• The upcoming International Arctic Forum, announced by Russian media throughout the past few weeks, will promote diverse cultural, scientific, economic, and diplomatic projects and programs in the Arctic.  
• The International Arctic Forum will also platform the “Soul of Russia” project, featuring a series of film screenings with titles like “The Great Northern Route” and “To the Arctic”, intended to situate the Arctic as a key component of Russian cultural and national identity.  
• Russian media has also reported on the possibility of India’s “active participation” in the Arctic Council as an observer state, describing its possible role in “stabiliz[ing] geopolitical rifts” in the region. 
• The media presents readers with a juxtaposition: Russia’s vision-based, internationalist approach to Arctic policy clashing with depictions of Western militarism, given substance by President Trump’s threats to annex Greenland.