Energy geopolitics as a factor in strategic planning for Arctic development

The global competition for energy resources in the 21st century has intensified, positioning energy geopolitics as a subject of growing scientific relevance. Building on classical geopolitical and geoeconomic axioms—“whoever controls the "heartland" can control the world” and “whoever controls financial resources can control the world”—this article introduces a new maxim: “whoever controls energy resources can control the world.” This formulation unites the three paradigms into a coherent conceptual framework. Within this framework, the Russian Arctic—rich in energy resources—emerges as a critical arena for investigating how energy geopolitics shapes strategic planning. Accordingly, the article pursues the following objectives: to define the theoretical foundations of energy geopolitics; to offer an original definition of the term; to demonstrate its significance in influencing the standard of living; and to examine its practical application within strategic planning for the Russian Arctic. The study applies systems and statistical analysis, analogical reasoning, scientific abstraction, and expert evaluation. The principal outcome is the conceptual positioning of energy geopolitics within the realities of Arctic development, aligned with the strategic planning horizons of 2030 and 2036. This represents the central conclusion of the research and contributes a novel perspective on the evolving role of energy geopolitics in global development trajectories. The practical importance and continued relevance of the study are underscored by the complex geopolitical and economic challenges confronting Russian energy resources, which are politically marginalized in the West and economically constrained in the East, particularly in China. Future research is needed to explore pathways for overcoming these imbalances in the current configuration of global energy geopolitics.