Consequences of the war in Ukraine on the Arctic: an analysis of post-conflict macro-scenarios
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53477/2284-9378-24-41Keywords:
Russian victory;, Ukrainian victory;, stalemate, ; special military operation, Russian-Ukrainian war;, Arctic;, Arctic exceptionalism;, frozen conflict, Euro-Barents Arctic Council.Abstract
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has opened a Pandora’s box with certain global consequences. From the beginning of the invasion, the first effects on government, research and economic activities also appeared. This conflict has radically changed the dynamics of security in the Arctic. The deterioration, unprecedented since the end of the Cold War, in relations between Russia and the West has meant that cooperation between the two blocs has also disappeared in the main and perhaps the only region of the globe still spared from political tensions.
The outbreak of the conflict led to a breakdown in cooperation and an escalation of military tensions in the Arctic. How these disputes end will be decisive in determining the Arctic region’s future political and strategic balances.The seven remaining Arctic states denounced Russia’s operation in Ukraine from the start, thus suspending all activities related to the Arctic Council. This is an immediate consequence and it indicates rapid and challenging changes for Arctic governance.
References
Boulègue, Mathieu. 2019. Russia’s military posture in the Arctic: Managing hard power in a ‘low tension’ environment. Chatham House: The Royal Institute of International Affairs. https://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/default/files/2019-06-28-Russia-Military-Arctic_0.pdf.
Brigham, Lawson. 2022. “Ten ways Russia’s invasion of Ukraine impacts the Arctic and the world.” The Hill. https://thehill.com/opinion/international/3736434-ten-ways-therussia-ukraine-war-impacts-the-arctic-and-the-world/.
Epstein, Jake. 2023. “Ukraine’s front-line forces are trying to fight their way through Russia’s formidable Surovikin Line. Here’s what that is.” Business Insider. https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-front-line-forces-fighting-through-russia-surovikinline-2023-9.
Heininen, Lassi, Alexander Sergunin, and Gleb Yarovoy. 2014. Russian Strategies in the Arctic: Avoiding a New Cold War. Grantees Report, Valdai Discussion Club. https:// www.uarctic.org/media/857300/arctic_eng.pdf.
Nilsen, Thomas. 2022. “Arctic brigade severely weakened.” The Barents Observer. https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/security/2022/12/arctic-brigade-severely-weakened.
Oberti, Benedetta. 2023. „La Guerra in Ucraina echeggia anche nell’Artico.” ISPI.https://www.ispionline.it/it/pubblicazione/la-guerra-in-ucraina-echeggia-anchenellartico-120600.
Paul, Michael, și Goran Swistek. 2022. Russia in the Arctic: Development plans, military potential, and conflict prevention. Berlin: Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik. https://www.swp-berlin.org/publications/products/research_papers/2022RP03_Russia_Arctic.pdf.
Posen, Barry R. 2023a. “How Moscow Has Partly Recovered From Its Military Setbacks.”
Foreign Affairs. https://www.foreignaffairs.com/ukraine/russia-rebound-moscowrecovered-military-setbacks.
—. 2023b. “Ukraine Has a Breakthrough Problem.” Foreign Policy. https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/08/03/ukraine-counteroffensive-breakthrough-problem/.
Trenin, Dmitri, and Pavel K. Baev. 2014. The Arctic: A View from Moscow. Moscow:Carnegie Centre. https://carnegie-production-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/static/files/arctic_cooperation.pdf.
Wall, Colin, and Njord Wegge. 2023. “The Russian Arctic Threat: Consequences of the Ukraine War.” RUSI. https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/external-publications/russian-arctic-threat-consequences-ukraine-war.
Wasielewski, Philip. 2023. Fighting to win: Ukraine, Russia and the war for survival. Eurasia Program, Foreign Policy Research Institute. https://www.fpri.org/article/2023/08/fighting-to-win-ukraine-russia-and-the-war-for-survival/.
Watling, Jack, and Nick Reynolds. 2024. “Russian Military Objectives and Capacity in Ukraine Through 2024.” RUSI. https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/russian-military-objectives-and-capacity-ukrainethrough-2024.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
The published articles are subject to copyright law. All rights are reserved to the “Carol I” National Defense University, regardless of whether all or part of the material are considered, especially the rights to translation, reprinting, re-use of illustrations, quotations, broadcasting through the media, reproduction on microfilms or any other way and storage in data banks. Any replicas without the associated fees are authorized provided the source is acknowledged.