How the Russian Invasion of Ukraine May Impact the Arctic

Aug 22, 2022 | Benjamin J. Sacks and Kristin Van Abel
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Seven countries that ring the North Pole recently declared that they would suspend cooperation with Russia at the Arctic Council, which Russia currently chairs, in response to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. The council said it could not perpetuate an image of “business as usual.”

The move by Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and the United States was unprecedented in council history, and it threatens to unravel a set of governance mechanisms put in place by the Arctic Council and other international forums that have maintained peace and collaboration in the Arctic for generations. Even Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea did not result in the same diplomatic response.

The seven Arctic states are cooperating in Arctic Council activities not involving Russia, including restarting scientific cooperation across countries. But the prospect of returning to the council's business as usual in the Arctic still seems very far away.