Why in news?
Speaking at an India-Russia Arctic conference, Russian Ambassador to India emphasized India’s growing role in the Arctic as a stabilizing force amid rising militarization by NATO countries.
The conference was organized by Vivekananda International Foundation and The Northern Forum of Russia.
What’s in today’s article?
- India’s Strategic and Economic Interests in the Arctic
- India-Russia Relations in the Arctic
- India’s Role as a Stabilising Factor in the Arctic
India’s Strategic and Economic Interests in the Arctic
- India’s 2022 Arctic Policy takes a whole-of-government approach, focusing on climate, economy, and governance.
- However, it overlooks rising militarization and great power rivalries.
- To safeguard long-term strategic interests, India must incorporate a seventh pillar addressing geopolitical dynamics.
- Economic Opportunities in the Arctic
- Countering China’s Expanding Presence
- China is aggressively investing in the Russian Arctic, particularly in energy and infrastructure, under its Polar Silk Road initiative.
- With a US$10 billion investment, China’s growing presence threatens India’s strategic and economic interests.
- Collaborating with Russia on the NSR can counterbalance China’s dominance, secure India’s energy supply, and prevent Russia from becoming overly reliant on China.
- Navigating Geopolitical Dynamics
- The Arctic is becoming a strategic battleground, with China asserting itself as a “near-Arctic state.”
- While India’s policy emphasizes sustainability, it must also strengthen strategic autonomy through diversified partnerships.
- By engaging in Arctic affairs, India can protect its energy security and assert influence in a multipolar world order.
India-Russia Relations in the Arctic
- India’s growing interest in the Arctic’s hydrocarbon and mineral reserves is closely tied to its partnership with Russia.
- With 50-55% of the Arctic’s coastline under Russian jurisdiction, India has invested $15 billion in Russian oil and gas projects, securing its economic and strategic foothold in the region.
- Strengthening Bilateral Trade and Arctic Cooperation
- At the 22nd Indo-Russia Summit, both nations committed to intensifying trade and investment, especially in the Russian Far East and Arctic zones.
- A joint working body within IRIGC-TEC has been established to enhance collaboration on the Northern Sea Route (NSR).
- They also set a goal to increase bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030.
- Geopolitical and Energy Security Implications
- As global power shifts towards Asia, India-Russia cooperation in the Arctic is becoming increasingly vital.
- Russia controls 80% of Arctic oil and gas reserves, while India seeks reliable energy sources for its growing economy.
India’s Role as a Stabilising Factor in the Arctic
- Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov emphasized India’s constructive approach in the Arctic, contrasting it with NATO’s militarization and unilateral policies, which have disrupted Arctic Council activities since 2022.
- He reaffirmed Russia’s support for India’s growing presence in the region and its commitment to joint scientific, environmental, and commercial initiatives.
- India-Russia Scientific Collaboration in the Arctic
- Alipov highlighted areas of bilateral research cooperation, including climate change, atmospheric studies, geosciences, glaciology, and polar biology.
- Indian scientists are also studying the Arctic’s influence on South Asian monsoons.
- Institutions like the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (Russia) and the Indian National Centre for Polar and Oceanic Research are actively collaborating, supported by a 2024 memorandum on Arctic research.
- Energy and Mineral Resource Cooperation
- Both countries are exploring joint ventures in Arctic energy and mineral resource extraction.
- Utilisation of the Northern Sea Route (NSR)
- India and Russia are strengthening maritime cooperation through the Northern Sea Route (NSR), which provides a shorter trade corridor between Eurasia and the Asia-Pacific.
- The India-Russia working group on NSR met in October to discuss cargo transit, polar navigation training for Indian sailors, and Arctic shipbuilding projects.
- A MoU on NSR cooperation is under negotiation.
- Expanding India’s Arctic Research Infrastructure
- Russia has offered vacant research stations in the Arctic for India’s use.
- India’s Strategic Investment in Russia’s Far East
- As India expands its investments in Russia’s Far East, cooperation on the NSR was highlighted in Prime Minister Modi’s 2023 visit to Moscow.
- Both nations aim to establish a stable and efficient transport corridor to strengthen their economic and geopolitical ties in the Greater Eurasian region.
