THE ARCTIC: GRAND CHALLENGES

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Ivan G. Tananaev1, 2, 5, Sergey V. Krivovichev3, Sergey M. Aksenov4

1A. N. Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry (IPCE), Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia

2, 3, 4Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Apatity, Russia

5Tananaev Institute of Chemistry

1geokhi@mail.ru, ORCID 0000-0002-2159-8182

3s.krivovichev@ksc.ru, ORCID 0000-0001-8352-1394

4s.aksenov@ksc.ru, ORCID 0000-0003-1709-4798

Abstract. This article examines the historical development of the Russian Arctic, the current status of Russia’s claims to extend its continental shelf, and the delimitation of maritime boundaries under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. It also discusses the substantial natural resources of the Far North. The region accounts for one-tenth of global oil production and one-quarter of natural gas output. It contains deposits of solid minerals, including tin, manganese, gold, nickel, lead, platinum, and diamonds.  The article traces the history of establishing the Northern Sea Route, from the first expedition seeking a maritime passage to China to projects proposed by M. V. Lomonosov and D. I. Mendeleev, and outlines its contemporary development. The article further considers an emerging dimension of Russia’s Arctic policy: the restoration of strategically important military bases to support both nuclear and non-nuclear capabilities. These measures are aimed at deterring potential aggression and safeguarding Russia’s diverse interests  in the region. The authors conclude that the Russian Arctic encompasses key resource, technological, military, and political assets that are critical to the country’s future. The region serves not only as a major center for resource extraction but also as the base  for a powerful icebreaker fleet, a hub of industrial activity supporting year-round navigation along the Northern Sea Route, and a locus of infrastructure essential for national defense. The article also addresses and challenges external claims regarding the status of Arctic territories as “common” or “neutral,” as well as allegations concerning environmental degradation.

Keywords: Russian Arctic, mineral reserves, continental shelf, geopolitics, Northern Sea Route

Acknowledgments: This research was funded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, grant No. 075-15-2024-534.

For citation: Tananaev I. G., Krivovichev S. V., Aksenov S. M. The Arctic: Grand challenges. Sever i rynok: formirovanie ekonomicheskogo poryadka [The North and the Market: Forming the Economic Order], 2026, no. 2, pp. 167–182. doi:10.37614/2220-802X.2.2026.92.012.

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