Russia has launched a new nuclear powered icebreaker ‘Sibir’. This icebreaker will support the growing fleet of icebreakers to keep the Northern Sea Route open for year-round shipping through the Arctic and enable a wider presence of India in the arctic region. 

Significance of the Russian Icebreakers

• To Strengthen Russia’s Status as a Great Arctic power:
• Both icebreakers were laid down as part of Russia’s large-scale, systematic work to re-equip and replenish the domestic icebreaker fleet, to strengthen Russia’s status as a “great Arctic power.”
• In the last two decades, Russia has reactivated several Soviet era Arctic military bases and upgraded its capabilities.
• For Studying Arctic Region:
• For Russia, it is essential to study and develop the Arctic, to ensure safe, sustainable navigation in this region, and to increase traffic along the northern sea route.
• Cut Down Time to Reach Asia:
• The development of this most important transport corridor will allow Russia to more fully unlock its export potentialand establish efficient logistics routes, including to South East Asia.
• For Russia, the opening of the Northern Sea Route will cut down time to reach Asia by up to two weeks compared to the current route via the Suez Canal

Significance of the Arctic Region

• Economic Significance:
• The Arctic region has rich deposits of coal, gypsum and diamondsand also substantial reserves of zinc, lead, placer gold and quartz. Greenland alone possesses about a quarter of the world''''s rare earth reserves.
• The Arctic already supplies the world with roughly 10% of its oil and 25% of its natural gas,mostly from onshore sources. It is also estimated to hold 22% of the Earth’s undiscovered oil and natural gas reserves.
• Geographical Significance:The Arctic helps circulate the world''''s ocean currents, moving cold and warm water around the globe.
• Also, Arctic Sea ice acts as a huge white reflector at the top of the planet,bouncing some of the sun''''s rays back into space, helping keep the Earth at an even temperature.
• Strategic Importance:
• TheArctic is taking on greater strategic significance due to climate change, as a shrinking ice cap opens up new sea lanes.
• There has been arace among Arctic states and near-arctic states to augment their capabilities in a bid to be ready to capitalize on the melting Arctic.
• Eg: North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)has been conducting regular exercises in the region.
• China, which calls itself a near-Arctic state,has also announced an ambitious plan for a polar silk route to connect to Europe.
• Environmental Significance:
• The Arctic and the Himalayas,though geographically distant, are interconnected and share similar concerns.
• The Arctic meltdown is helping the scientific community to better understand the glacial melt in the Himalayas,which has often been referred to as the ‘third pole’ and has the largest freshwater reserves after the North and South poles.

India’s stand w.r.t. Arctic

• Since 2007,India has an Arctic research programme with as many as 13 expeditions undertaken till date.
• In March 2022,India unveiled its first Arctic policy titled: ‘India and the Arctic: building a partnership for sustainable development’.
• The policy lays down six pillars: strengthening India’s scientific research and cooperation, climate and environmental protection, economic and human development, transportation and connectivity, governance and international cooperation, and national capacity building in the Arctic region.
• India is also one of the 13 Observers in the Arctic Council,the leading intergovernmental forum promoting cooperation in the Arctic.
• The Arctic Council is an intergovernmental body that promotes research and facilitates cooperation among Arctic countries on issues related to the environmental protection and sustainable development of the Arctic region.

Looking ahead

• As the earth further heats up, which is more profound at the poles,the race for the Arctic is set to accelerate which makes the Arctic the next geopolitical hotspot with all interests converging on it – environmental, economic, political and military.
• India’s Arctic Policy is timely and is likely to provide a direction to India’s policy-makers on contours of India’s engagement with the region.
• There is aneed to promote safe and sustainable resource exploration and development in the arctic region, with efficient multilateral actions taking into account cumulative environmental impacts.