The International Dimension of Norwegian Arctic Policy and the Accumulated Capital of Russian-Norwegian Cooperation

This article presents an analysis of Norway’s cooperation with Arctic and non-Arctic states in the Arctic over the past decade. The paper focuses on the priorities of the country’s new Arctic strategy adopted in 2020 in the areas of environmental protection, social and economic development, and improving the quality of life of indigenous peoples and residents of the northern regions. The paper aims at systematization of Norway’s experience of participation in various projects both under the aegis of international organizations in the region (the Arctic Council, the Barents-Euro-Arctic Council, the Nordic Council of Ministers, etc.) and in bilateral format with the Arctic countries. A special emphasis is placed on the analysis of Norwegian-Russian cooperation in the Arctic in the fields of environmental protection, fisheries, energy, joint operations to prevent and eliminate the consequences of oil spills and other environmental disasters, and social and cultural interaction. In addition, cooperation of Norway and Russia in multilateral formats in various sectors is examined. The current crisis in Russia-Western relations and its impact on the implementation of joint Russian-Norwegian projects and initiatives and the development of cooperation in the Arctic are analyzed.