Russia holding talks with India for cooperation in Arctic region

Why in News?

The Russian Foreign Ministry recently stated that India is among the countries having the most productive dialogue with Russia on cooperation in the Arctic region. Speaking at the fourth Arctic–Regions Forum in Arkhangelsk, Russian officials highlighted the growing interest of countries such as India and China in Arctic cooperation.

In July 2026, an Indian parliamentary panel also recommended that the government consider appointing a “Polar Ambassador” to provide dedicated leadership for India’s Arctic and polar affairs.

Key Points

The Arctic region largely consists of territories under the sovereignty of the Arctic states and is home to around four million people, including approximately 10% indigenous populations.

Why is the Arctic Important for India?

Arctic–Indian Monsoon Link: Nearly 70% of India’s annual rainfall is associated with the southwest monsoon. Increasing scientific evidence suggests a connection between Arctic climate processes and the Indian monsoon. Rapid Arctic warming and declining sea ice can alter atmospheric circulation patterns and influence monsoon behaviour over South Asia.

Sea-Level Rise: The Arctic is an important contributor to global sea-level rise because of the melting of glaciers and ice sheets. Low-lying Indian Ocean countries such as the Maldives face serious long-term risks. Climate-induced displacement could affect hundreds of millions of people living in vulnerable coastal regions of South Asia and may create major humanitarian, social and security challenges.

Geopolitical Significance: Two of India’s major strategic partners, Russia and the United States, are Arctic states. At the same time, China, although not an Arctic state, has expanded its investments in Arctic research, infrastructure and shipping. The region is increasingly important for maritime access, energy security and critical mineral supply chains.

Relations with Arctic States: India maintains friendly relations with the other Arctic countries as well. The India–Nordic Summit has strengthened cooperation with Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Iceland, while India-Canada relations have also shown improvement.

Institutional Challenges for India: India currently lacks a dedicated senior official responsible for Arctic affairs. Responsibility for Arctic matters is distributed among multiple divisions of the Ministry of External Affairs, potentially making policy coordination more difficult. All eight Arctic states have dedicated Arctic ambassadors or equivalent officials, while several observer countries have also established specialised mechanisms. For example, Singapore, despite being a tropical country, has a Special Envoy for Arctic Affairs.

Need for a Polar Research Vessel: India’s scientific presence in the Arctic remains largely concentrated around Svalbard, partly because it does not possess an ice-class research vessel. Access to the wider Arctic Ocean therefore depends on cooperation with foreign partners and the availability of chartered vessels. The parliamentary committee has recommended that India acquire a dedicated Polar Research Vessel (PRV) to undertake meaningful pan-Arctic scientific research. The Indian Cabinet sanctioned a PRV in 2014, but the project has yet to materialise.

Funding Challenge: India spent only around ₹17.53 crore on Arctic activities in 2024–25, which was less than one-tenth of its expenditure on Antarctica.

About Arctic

Arctic is the northernmost region of Earth, centred on the North Pole. It has sometimes been used to designate the area within the Arctic Circle—a mathematical line that is drawn at latitude 66°30′ N, marking the southern limit of the zone in which there is at least one annual period of 24 hours during which the sun does not set and one during which it does not rise.

Eight countries have land inside the Arctic region and make up the members of the Arctic Council: Canada, Denmark (via Greenland), Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the United States (via Alaska).

Sources: TH & Indian Express

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