Commentary
Trump’s Push for Greenland: Implications for Russia-India Arctic Cooperation
The United States has renewed its focus on Greenland. This desire for acquisition by the US is not unprecedented, having been seriously explored by American policymakers in 1867, 1910, 1946 and 1955. Contrary to initial perceptions that US President Donald Trump's interest was merely frivolous, evidence suggests that this could be a firm decision already made by the US Administration, at least under his leadership, one which they could be determined to execute in future.
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Interpreting the Spitsbergen Treaty: Some Historical Sensitivities
Five years into its second century, the Paris Treaty on Spitsbergen remains an important building block of international Arctic law and a strong foundation for Russia’s continued presence in the islands.
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Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor May Offer Alternative to European Waterways?
Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor is to facilitate the supply of Russian products to countries in the Global South. This initiative aims to identify and cultivate novel market opportunities for Russia, particularly in light of existing international sanctions.
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Achieving Arctic Development Targets by 2026 — A Foundation for a New Stage of Social and Economic Growth
February 27, 2026 In the run-up to Arctic Day, the Director General of the PORA Expert Center, Maksim Dankin, assessed the results of the social and economic development of the Russian Arctic over the past five years. Speaking at the round table devoted to the strategic priorities for the development of the Russian Arctic Zone...
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Russia-China Partnership Is More Complex Than It Seems
Since the 1970s, American diplomats have expressed concerns regarding whether the partnership between Russia and China is merely a pragmatic alliance or one of a more strategic nature. The 2024 Pentagon Arctic Strategy, a policy document developed under the Biden administration and currently in effect, designates the Arctic region as critical for homeland defense and...
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Central Asia and the Arctic: Russia’s Global REM-Project
On February 4–5, 2026, the second international B5+1 business forum was held in the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, bringing together business and government representatives from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as the United States. The B5+1 forum format grew out of the C5+1 forum, which was founded in 2015 to advance US...
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Yakutia Is Supposed to Remain a Donor of Oxygen for the Global Community
Six regions of Russia, including the Arkhangelsk Oblast, Yakutia, and Komi (which are partially located in the Russian Arctic Zone), must become carbon neutral starting in 2026. This scales up the experience of Sakhalin, which managed to achieve a balance between greenhouse gas emissions and absorption in 2025. Commenting is Mikhail Cherosov, Director of the...
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How Yakutia Can Achieve Carbon Neutrality
The Sakhalin experiment proved the effectiveness of certain approaches. Now, its results need to be adapted for a vast region, comparable in area to India or Europe, with its unique ecosystems and economic structure. February 24, 2026 Russia has mandated that six of its regions, encompassing territories of Arkhangelsk region, Yakutia, and Komi, to achieve...
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