Arctic Council cautiously revives interaction with Russia after hiatus

The Arctic Council is cautiously reviving some level of cooperation with Russia after a significant hiatus. In March 2022, all activities and projects involving Russia were frozen as the nation initiated a military invasion of Ukraine under its then-presidency. However, in February 2024, the Council agreed to allow its six working groups and associated expert teams to convene virtually, where Russia can also participate. These remote meetings have commenced during the spring and summer.

Finland’s Arctic Ambassador, Petteri Vuorimäki, explained that while meetings involve representatives from Russia, they are limited to technical discussions and do not extend to higher-level diplomatic engagements, such as those involving Arctic ambassadors.

Since the outset of the invasion, new initiatives have been launched that exclude Russia, and decision-making shifted to a minimal communication outline in the fall of 2023. This means decisions are made through written correspondence rather than virtual meetings or discussions. Vuorimäki emphasized the importance of maintaining active dialogue within the Council to address pressing climate issues, noting the critical role Russia plays as the largest Arctic nation.

He highlighted three reasons for ongoing dialogue: the necessity of involving all member states in climate issue resolutions, the inadequacy of minimal correspondence for meaningful discussion, and the need for indigenous voices to be amplified more effectively through virtual meetings.

Despite the ongoing tensions and limitations, Vuorimäki believes the Council continues to function, stating that while they are “far from normal cooperation,” the ability to operate and make decisions remains intact. He refrained from using the term “cooperation,” opting instead for “interaction” to describe the current state of affairs in discussions with Russia.