Indo-Russian Economic Collaboration in the Arctic Region

Abstract

India is undergoing the most unprecedented transformation in human history of the free world. The scale and pace of this transformation are truly remarkable. Maintaining such a steep, ascending growth trajectory will require additional resources, make new alliances, and revitalised existing partnerships. Russia, a time-tested strategic partner with its resource-rich Arctic region, can play a pivotal role in India’s continued growth. With vast reserves of hydrocarbons, rare earth metals, and strategic minerals becoming accessible due to the melting ice in the Arctic region, and with Russia being a key player in that region, the need for India to collaborate with Russia in the Arctic region is greater than ever before. Although India (as British India) is the original signatory of the Svalbard Treaty and has a research station, Himadri, in Svalbard, its focus on the region has increased only recently and has expended well beyond the traditional interest in scientific exploration. Indo-Russian collaboration in the Arctic is progressing in many fields. In addition to the ongoing collaborations scientific research, development of the Northern Sea Route, oil exploration, India’s energy security needs, increased connectivity, training of Indian seafarers for Arctic navigation, and enhanced trade, there are multiple areas, such as green energy initiatives, hydrographic surveys, polar research vessel construction, focused research on the effects of changing Arctic conditions on the monsoon weather system, and many more, that have the potential for collaboration between India and Russia.