With the recent historic agreement between Norway and Russia over the boundaries of the Barents Sea as a guideline, attention has begun to turn to how other Arctic nations can learn to work with their largest regional neighbour.
Russia is seen as a behemoth and a threat among many Canadians and their policy makers. But as arctic ice melts and more economic opportunities become available in the North, Canada and all of the five arctic nations are going to need to learn to work with Russia. According to Rune Rafaelsen of the Norwegian Barents Secretariat, co-operation in the North is paramount to the success of development in the region.
Russian explorer, Arthur Chilingarov’s, planting of a titanium Russian flag on the seabed of the North pole in 2007 was seen as an act of aggression by some in Canada. Foreign minister at the time, Peter MacKay, said “Look, this isn’t the 15th century. You can’t go around the world and just plant flags and say, ‘We’re claiming this territory.’ Our claims over our Arctic are very well established.”
Concerns over Russia’s intentions in the arctic are real in Canada. Some policy experts question whether they are necessary.
A Financial Times opinion piece by Charles Emmerson author of The Future History of the Arctic, said there is much Russia’s arctic neighbours can learn from its experience in the region. The country, according to Emmerson, has a long history of exploration in the region of which little is known beyond its borders. He added, “Correctly understood, Russia’s attitudes towards the Arctic are not necessarily alarming. However, they require management and diplomacy on the part of other Arctic countries, and organisations such as Nato.”
At the end of the day experts outside of Canada agree that Russia is not the regional threat that many in Canada fear. But as Norway’s foreign minister put it recently during Arctic Five meeting in Canada, Russia is “not yet a stable, reliable, predictable state.” So while caution may be required, outright fear and disengagement may not be the answer to arctic development.
Written by Chantaie Allick
