Valdai Club

Marat Shibutov

Vyacheslav Sutyrin

Prabhat Shukla

Ilya Storchilov

Murad Sadygzade

Konstantin Simonov

Kriti M Shah

Yulia Sokolshchik

Emil Sayfullin

Alexander Sergunin

Russian Federation

Professor, Department of International Relations, School of International Relations, St. Petersburg State University.

Materials

Russia and the U.S. in the Arctic: A New Confrontation or Damage Limitation?

Serious international experts do not see any particular alarming trends in Russia’s military behavior in the Arctic in the aftermath of the Ukrainian crisis. There was no any substantial paradigmatic shift regarding the Kremlin’s vision of the military power’s role in the Arctic.

Report: Russian Strategies in the Arctic: Avoiding a New Cold War

This report aims to provide a comprehensive picture and analysis of the current situation in the Arctic, as well as a rigorous assessment of the interests and problems of the Russian Federation in the Arctic.

Russian Views on the Ukraine's Crisis

Mainstream Russian foreign policy thinkers believe that by ousting Yanukovych and bringing nationalistic/anti-Russian forces to power, the EU and US crossed a “red line” in the post-Soviet space. They argue that the West violated a tacit agreement with Moscow to preference soft power over hard power in the post-Soviet space.

Climate Change in the Arctic: Geopolitical and Security Implications

It became trivial to say that climate change is the main reason and a trigger for the recent significant changes in the Arctic region. Indeed, climate change can exacerbate existing drivers of instability in the Arctic, and may lead to disputes over trade routes, maritime zones and resources previously inaccessible.

Russia’s Policy Toward the Indigenous Peoples of the North

The Third International Arctic Forum “The Arctic – Territory of Dialogue” organized by the Russian Geographical Society (RGS) will take place from 24st to 25th of September, 2013. The Forum will be held in Salekhard, the administrative center of Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District and one of the two towns in the world located right on a Polar circle.

New Russian Arctic Doctrine: From Idealism to Realism?

Russia’s “readiness for war” is an essential part of the political discourse. Vladimir Putin, while giving a speech on a summary meeting of the Defense Ministry Board, put the situation in the Arctic region on a par with some of the “classic” threats to Russia's national security.

Russia’s Energy Strategies in the Arctic

More than 60 percent of Arctic oil and gas resources are deposited in areas which belong to or are claimed by the Russian Federation. It accounts for 375 billion barrels of oil. The general development of the hydrocarbon-driven economy in the Arctic must deal with energy security. It creates an ‘Arctic paradox’ whereby an increased utilization of off-shore hydrocarbons will contribute to climate change.