According to the expert, in an interview with Kommersant newspaper on Tuesday, the groundwork is clear for resuming international cooperation in the Arctic, something that was a priority during the first administration of US President Donald Trump.
According to Patrushev, it is not ruled out that Washington will also pay attention to the region this time and show interest in jointly addressing the many challenges in the area, which include “confidence building, economic projects, developing transport potential, protecting ecosystems, and much more.”
The presidential adviser also noted that Russia is ready to compete with the United States in the Arctic, although “it is based on the fact that international law fully guarantees Russian sovereignty in the region, including the Northern Sea Route.”
Russia’s position in the Arctic is very strong, and in many ways we have an advantage that no one else in the world even remotely possesses. It’s enough to mention our unique icebreaker fleet, the official asserted.
Patrushev stated that at the International Arctic Forum held last month in the Russian city of Murmansk, the comprehensive project for the development of the Arctic zone and the Northern Sea Route, which is already considered an integral part of the trans-Arctic transport corridor connecting East and West, was actively discussed.
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