Russia says Arctic talks with India 'most productive'
India is among the countries holding the most productive talks with Russia on Arctic cooperation, a senior Russian foreign ministry official said Thursday, August 13, as Moscow reported growing interest from nations seeking to engage in the high-latitude region.
Vladislav Maslennikov, director of the Department of European Problems at Russia's Foreign Ministry, told the fourth Arctic – Regions Forum that dialogue with China and India was proving especially productive, noting both countries had shown interest in the Arctic agenda and possessed significant resources for joint projects there, state-run news agency TASS reported.
Maslennikov's remarks followed comments a day earlier by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who said India, China and other Russian "friends" wanted to work with Moscow on Arctic cooperation and use of the Northern Sea Route.
Putin, speaking at Pacific Fleet exercises, said tensions were rising in the Arctic and Asia-Pacific regions, particularly over use of the Northern Sea Route, but said Russia remained committed to Arctic cooperation within the framework of international maritime law.
He said countries interested in working with Russia on the route chiefly China, India and others were already in discussions with Moscow and would be welcome to join the logistics initiative, according to TASS.
The exchange comes weeks after a parliamentary panel in New Delhi recommended in July that the government consider appointing a "polar ambassador," saying the position would help project the importance of the polar regions in India's foreign policy and support more effective "polar diplomacy."
The panel noted that most of the Arctic falls under the sovereign territory of Arctic nations and is home to about four million people, roughly 10% of them indigenous.
The Arctic region, defined as areas above 66 degrees north latitude, together with Antarctica accounts for nearly 90% of the planet's ice sheet and stores 70% of its fresh water. Unlike the Arctic, which is a sea surrounded by land, Antarctica is a landmass surrounded by sea.
(Inputs from PTI)
