Notes on Russia's Official Discourse on International Cooperation in the Arctic

This policy brief analyzes Russia’s official discourse on international cooperation in the Arctic during the second half of 2025 and January 2026, based on public statements by federal authorities, diplomatic institutions, and sector-specific bodies. The analysis highlights a shift from declarative “openness” toward a more selective and functionally bounded approach, in which international cooperation is framed as acceptable mainly in concrete, practice-oriented formats such as infrastructure, transport, science, and environmental management. Within this discourse, a clear distinction is drawn between the United States, viewed as a potential partner for limited and selective engagement, and European allies, which are predominantly discussed in the context of sanctions, NATO expansion, and the militarization of the Arctic.