Russia hands over Arctic Council presidency to Norway

Norway took over Arctic Council's rotating presidency from Russia on Thursday amid concerns that work of eight-country intergovernmental body on protecting sensitive environment is at risk because of suspension of cooperation with Moscow over war in Ukraine.

In March 2022, seven western members of Arctic Council which doesn’t deal with security issues but makes binding agreements on environmental protection and gives a voice to Indigenous peoples of Arctic region, suspended ir participation in intergovernmental body in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine a month earlier.

countries — Cana, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and United States — said that y wouldn't send representatives to council’s meetings in Russia — world’s largest Arctic state — although y remained convinced of value of Arctic cooperation.

Research involving Russia, ranging from climate work to mapping polar bears, has been put on hold, and scientists have lost access to important facilities in Russian Arctic.

Arctic Council, which covers an area home to more than 4 million people, is one of only places where Russia sits at same table as Western countries.

During Russia’s two-year chairmanship, Arctic Council faced greatest threat to its existence since it was created in 1996.

That could have implications for Arctic environment, with melting sea ice and interest of non-Arctic countries in vast region’s mostly untapped mineral resources. region also could see new naval passageways and new opportunities for tre, as travel time for ships between Asia and West could be noticeably slashed.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen recently said that council was “limping along a bit. But re is really no alternative.”

“It is a huge challenge for Norway. y have to isolate Russia and at same time y have to make sure not to provoke Russia to dissolve Council," said Rasmus Gjedssø Bertelsen, of Arctic University of Norway in Tromsoe.

And on top of member states, six organsations representing Arctic Indigenous peoples have status as permanent participants.

Gjedssø Bertelsen feared that Indigenous peoples might “lose an important forum and a prominent platform,” ding that many of groups are cross-border organisations and don't follow national borders.

Several countries like France, Germany, China, Japan, India and Korea attend meetings of Arctic Council as observers, meaning international politics is anor challenge for Norway's presidency, he told Associated Press.

A security policy expert on polar regions, Dwayne Ryan Menezes, warned that with Norway taking over, forum’s problems won’t go away.

Scandinavian country ”clearly recognises challenges that lie ahe, especially with respect to future of Arctic cooperation through Arctic Council at a time when cooperation with Russia is still suspended,” he said.

“But it will make it possible for majority of member states to have a close working relationship with chair once again, which will aid forum’s work of promoting cooperation and coordination,” he said.

"Norway will continue to focus on core issues Council deals with, including impacts of climate change, sustainable development and efforts to enhance well-being of people living in region," Huitfeldt said.

She vowed “to resume its important work during Norway’s period as chair. Toger with or member states, we will now explore how this can be achieved in practice.”

Formally, 13th meeting of Arctic Council was held in Salekhard, Russia, but unlike in 2021, when Icelandic foreign minister handed over a wooden hammer to Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov as Iceland passed on chairmanship baton, Thursday's attendees were participating countries’ Arctic ambassors — not foreign ministers — who met in an online event.

That meeting issued a statement “recognising historic and unique role of Arctic Council for constructive cooperation, stability and dialogue between people in Arctic region.” But re was no mention of Ukraine.