Russian Ambassador to India, Denis Alipov speaks throughout an occasion, on the Russian Embassy in Delhi on December 12, 2024.
| Photograph Credit score: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR

Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov stated his nation sees India’s curiosity in rising its presence within the Arctic as a “stabilising issue.” The diplomat expressed concern over the rising militarisation of the Arctic and the tensions generated by the NATO international locations.

He cited the improved tempo of their army exercise within the Arctic and makes an attempt by European NATO members to impose their very own guidelines of the sport as inimical to sustaining safety and stability within the area.

“We view India as a strategic associate within the joint growth of the Arctic space and coordinated scientific, environmental, and industrial efforts,” he stated, talking at an India-Russia Arctic convention on “Uniting North and South: for Sustainable Improvement within the Arctic” organised by Vivekananda Worldwide Basis and The Northern Discussion board of Russia.

The rise of tensions brought on by NATO international locations has negatively impacted the position of the Arctic Council, whose actions have been suspended since 2022,” the Envoy stated.

“In distinction to their hostile strategy, we worth India’s constructive strategy within the Arctic Council since its accession as an observer in 2013,” added Mr. Alipov. “At numerous multilateral fora, Russia and India stand collectively to protect the Arctic as a territory of peace and stability and to unlock alternatives for its growth as an engine of development and cooperation.”

In accordance with Mr. Alipov, Russia is in favour of collaborating with India on analysis on local weather change, atmospheric research, geosciences, glaciology and polar biology. He highlighted that Indian scientists are finding out the speculation that the Arctic influences of the dynamics of the monsoon with a concentrate on South Asia.

The Arctic and Antarctic Analysis Institute in Saint Petersburg and the Northern (Arctic) Federal College in Arkhangelsk cooperate with the Indian Nationwide Centre for Polar and Oceanic Analysis, in addition to the Worldwide Centre for Polar Research on the Mahatma Gandhi College and Cochin College of Science and Expertise. In 2024, the 2 international locations signed a memorandum of cooperation within the subject of scientific analysis within the Arctic.

Each international locations have expressed mutual curiosity in exploring tasks for the extraction of Arctic mineral riches, together with vitality assets and uncommon earth parts. Mr. Alipov famous that presently into consideration are alternatives for Indian corporations to hitch tasks promoted by NOVATEK and Gazprom Neft, two main Russian fossil gas exploitation corporations, within the Dolginskoye oil subject and ventures within the Vostok oil cluster by partnering with Rosneft. There are additionally promising alternatives for Indian corporations within the growth of Yamal liquefied pure gasoline (LNG) and Arctic LNG-2 tasks, added the diplomat.

Vladimir Vasilev, Government Director of The Northern Discussion board, a membership-based worldwide group that presently has 12 member areas (most of that are Russian, together with the U.S. State of Alaska and the Gangwon Province in South Korea) and 9 enterprise companions, known as for better collaboration between India and Russia over analysis and growth on the Arctic. There are a number of vacant analysis stations within the Arctic that India might utilise for conducting analysis, Mr. Alipov stated.

Final October, the India-Russia working group on cooperation within the Northern Sea Route (NSR) held the primary assembly the place the targets for Indian-Russian cargo transit, doable coaching of Indian sailors for polar navigation and the event of joint tasks within the Arctic shipbuilding have been mentioned.

The working group additionally drafted a memorandum of understanding for the event of cooperation in cargo delivery within the waters of the NSR. The NSR is the shortest delivery route connecting the western a part of Eurasia and the Asia-Pacific area, made doable because of the melting icecaps. “An intergovernmental memorandum between Russia and India on utilising the Northern Sea Route is below negotiation,” the Envoy stated on this regard. “As agreed, we provide coaching to Indian seamen for navigation in northern latitudes.”

As India scales up investments in Russia’s Far East, cooperation on NSR featured within the joint assertion issued after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s go to to Moscow final July. Each side shared approaches on constructing a “new structure of secure and environment friendly transport corridors,” together with for the aim of “implementing the concept of a better Eurasian area.”