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DISRUPTED COOPERATION: IMPACT OF THE RUSSIA – UKRAINE CONFLICT ON THE ARCTIC COUNCIL

Year 2025, Issue: 48, 353 - 364, 31.07.2025
https://doi.org/10.18092/ulikidince.1684727

Abstract

This article aims to assess the impact of the 2022 Russia–Ukraine war on Arctic regional governance, focusing specifically on the Arctic Council’s capacity to maintain its cooperative framework. Employing a qualitative and analytical methodology based on document analysis and a review of secondary literature, the study examines the political, institutional, and security-related shifts in Arctic cooperation since the outbreak of the conflict. The findings indicate that the exclusion of Russia from Arctic Council activities has severely challenged the Council's inclusivity, disrupted scientific collaboration, and contributed to a more fragile regional governance environment. The study concludes that the future viability of the Arctic Council will largely depend on its ability to innovate, adapt to a rapidly shifting geopolitical environment, and restore a functional cooperative framework despite enduring tensions. In this context, the article argues that maintaining Arctic stability and multilateral cooperation may require not only restoring cooperation but also pursuing broader institutional adaptations.

References

  • Arctic Council. (1996). Declaration on the Establishment of the Arctic Council (Ottawa Declaration). Ottawa, Canada. Retrieved from https://oaarchive.arctic-council.org/handle/11374/85
  • Arctic Council. (2013). Rules of Procedure of the Arctic Council. Retrieved from https://oaarchive .arctic-council.org/items/f06e5457-1246-44d3-a8c1-00016dd585db
  • Arctic Portal. (n.d.). Arctic Policies Database. Retrieved June 7, 2025, from https://arcticportal. org/arctic-governance/arctic-policies-database
  • Baev, P. (2018). Russia’s Ambivalent Status-Quo/Revisionist Policies in the Arctic. Arctic Review on Law and Politics, 9(1), 408-424.
  • Borgerson, S. G. (2008). Arctic Meltdown: The Economic and Security Implications of Global Warming. Foreign Affairs, 87(2), 63-77.
  • Borozna, A. (2024). Russia's Security Perceptions and Arctic Governance. Politics and Governance, 12(1), 57-73.
  • Canova, E. & Pic, P. (2023, June 13). The Arctic Council in Transition: Challenges and Perspectives for the new Norwegian Chairship. The Arctic Institute. https://www.thearcticinstitute.org /arctic-council-transition-challenges-perspectives-new-norwegian-chairship/
  • Chater, A. (2019, May 15). Takeaways from the 11th Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting in Rovaniemi. The Polar Connection. https://polarconnection.org/arctic-council-ministerial-rovaniemi/
  • Conley, H. A. & Melino, M. (2019). The Implications of U.S. Policy Stagnation toward the Arctic Region. Center for Strategic and International Studies. https://www.csis.org/analysis/ implications-us-policy-stagnation-toward-arctic-region
  • Delepierre, A., Dalman, J., De Sutter, C., Fort, G., Rizzi, A. (2020). Great Power Competition in the Arctic. Brussels: Finabel.
  • Dyck, C. (2024). On Thin Ice: The Arctic Council’s Uncertain Future. Marine Policy, 163, 106060.
  • Edvardsen, A. (2024). The Arctic Council with New Decisive Step Forward. High North News. https://www.highnorthnews.com/en/arctic-council-new-decisive-step-forward
  • Huebert, R. (2014). Rising Temperatures, Rising Tensions: Power Politics and Regime Building in the Arctic, in Stephens T. & Vanderzwaag D. (Eds.), Polar Oceans Governance in an Era of Environmental Change, (pp. 65-85). London: Edward Elgar Publishing
  • Hughes, T. (2024) Defence in the Arctic in 2024 (Policy Brief). North American and Arctic Defence and Security Network. https://www.naadsn.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Hughes_ Arctic-Defence-in-2024.pdf
  • Käpylä, J., & Mikkola, H. (2015). On Arctic Exceptionalism: Critical Reflections in the Light of the Arctic Sunrise Case and the Crisis in Ukraine (Working Paper, No 85). Finnish Institute of International Affairs.
  • Klimenko, E. (2016). Russia’s Arctic Security Policy: Still Quiet in the High North? (SIPRI Policy Paper No. 45). Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
  • Koivurova, T. (2022). Is it Possible to Continue Cooperating with Russia in the Arctic Council? Georgetown Journal of International Affairs – Global Governance. https://gjia.george town.edu/2022/06/29/is-it-possible-to-continue-cooperating-with-russia-in-the-arctic-council/
  • Kopra, S. & Wall, C. (2022). A New Climate: The Impact of Russia's War on a Melting Arctic. Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, Policy Paper (11.2022). 1-16. https://shop.freiheit. org/#!/Publikation/1349
  • Loon, V. K., & Zandee, D. (2024). Shifts in Arctic Security: Ripples of Russia’s War against Ukraine (Clingendael Policy Brief). Clingendael: Netherlands Institute of International Relations.
  • Olesen, M. R., & Sørensen T. N. (2019). Intensifying Great Power Politics in the Arctic. Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS).
  • Paul, M. (2023). US Arctic Security Policy (SWP Comment No. 40). Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP) – German Institute for International and Security Affairs.
  • Paul, M. (2024). Back to the Future of the Arctic (SWP Comment No. 18). Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP) – German Institute for International and Security Affairs.
  • Rahbek-Clemmensen, J. (2017). The Ukraine Crisis Moves North. Is Arctic Conflict Spill-over Driven by Material Interests? Polar Record, 53(1), 1-15.
  • Spence, J., & Chenok, H. (2024). The Future of Arctic Council Innovation: Charting a Course for Working-Level Cooperation (Workshop Report). Harvard Kennedy School Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Arctic Initiative.
  • Thomasen, G., Cervasio, C., & McClafferty, M. (2024). Arctic Diplomacy at Crossroads: Addressing Present and Future Geopolitical and Strategic Risks. British American Security Information Council (BASIC).
  • Vindevogel, B. (2022). The Arctic, a New Front for Great Power Conflict. Egmont Royal Institute for International Relations.
  • Wezeman, S. T. (2016). Military Capabilities in the Arctic: A New Cold War in the High North? (SIPRI Background Paper). Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
  • Winkel, J. (2023). The impact of the Ukraine War on the Arctic (Fokus No.5). Austria Institut für Europa und Sicherheitspolitik.
  • Young, O. R. (2019). Is it Time for a Reset in Arctic Governance? Sustainability, 11(16). 4497-4509.
  • Young, O. R. (2022). Can the Arctic Council Survive the Impact of the Ukraine Crisis? Georgetown Journal of International Affairs – Global Governance. https://gjia.george town.edu/2022/12/30/can-the-arctic-council-survive-the-impact-of-the-ukraine-crisis/
  • Zellen B. S. (2023), As War in Ukraine Upends a Quarter Century of Enduring Arctic Cooperation, The Northern Review, 54(1), 137-160.

KESİNTİYE UĞRAYAN İŞ BİRLİĞİ: RUSYA – UKRAYNA ÇATIŞMASININ ARKTİK KONSEYİ ÜZERİNDEKİ ETKİSİ

Year 2025, Issue: 48, 353 - 364, 31.07.2025
https://doi.org/10.18092/ulikidince.1684727

Abstract

Bu makale, 2022 Rusya–Ukrayna savaşının Arktik bölgesel yönetişimi üzerindeki etkilerini değerlendirmeyi ve özellikle Arktik Konseyi'nin iş birliği çerçevesini koruma kapasitesini analiz etmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Belgesel analiz ve ikincil literatür taramasına dayalı niteliksel ve analitik bir yöntem benimseyen çalışma, savaşın başlamasından bu yana Arktik iş birliğinde meydana gelen siyasi, kurumsal ve güvenlik temelli değişimleri incelemektedir. Bulgular, Rusya'nın Arktik Konseyi faaliyetlerinden dışlanmasının Konsey'in kapsayıcılığını ciddi şekilde zedelediğini, bilimsel iş birliğini aksattığını ve bölgesel yönetişimde daha kırılgan bir yapının ortaya çıkmasına katkı sağladığını göstermektedir. Çalışma, Arktik Konseyi'nin gelecekteki varlığının, hızla değişen jeopolitik ortama uyum sağlama, yenilikçilik geliştirme ve kalıcı gerilimlere rağmen işlevsel bir iş birliği çerçevesini yeniden kurabilme yeteneğine bağlı olacağını savunmaktadır. Bu bağlamda makale, Arktik'te istikrarın ve çok taraflı yönetişimin sağlanabilmesi için sadece iş birliğinin yeniden tesis edilmesinin değil, daha geniş çaplı kurumsal uyarlamaların da gerekebileceğini savunmaktadır.

References

  • Arctic Council. (1996). Declaration on the Establishment of the Arctic Council (Ottawa Declaration). Ottawa, Canada. Retrieved from https://oaarchive.arctic-council.org/handle/11374/85
  • Arctic Council. (2013). Rules of Procedure of the Arctic Council. Retrieved from https://oaarchive .arctic-council.org/items/f06e5457-1246-44d3-a8c1-00016dd585db
  • Arctic Portal. (n.d.). Arctic Policies Database. Retrieved June 7, 2025, from https://arcticportal. org/arctic-governance/arctic-policies-database
  • Baev, P. (2018). Russia’s Ambivalent Status-Quo/Revisionist Policies in the Arctic. Arctic Review on Law and Politics, 9(1), 408-424.
  • Borgerson, S. G. (2008). Arctic Meltdown: The Economic and Security Implications of Global Warming. Foreign Affairs, 87(2), 63-77.
  • Borozna, A. (2024). Russia's Security Perceptions and Arctic Governance. Politics and Governance, 12(1), 57-73.
  • Canova, E. & Pic, P. (2023, June 13). The Arctic Council in Transition: Challenges and Perspectives for the new Norwegian Chairship. The Arctic Institute. https://www.thearcticinstitute.org /arctic-council-transition-challenges-perspectives-new-norwegian-chairship/
  • Chater, A. (2019, May 15). Takeaways from the 11th Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting in Rovaniemi. The Polar Connection. https://polarconnection.org/arctic-council-ministerial-rovaniemi/
  • Conley, H. A. & Melino, M. (2019). The Implications of U.S. Policy Stagnation toward the Arctic Region. Center for Strategic and International Studies. https://www.csis.org/analysis/ implications-us-policy-stagnation-toward-arctic-region
  • Delepierre, A., Dalman, J., De Sutter, C., Fort, G., Rizzi, A. (2020). Great Power Competition in the Arctic. Brussels: Finabel.
  • Dyck, C. (2024). On Thin Ice: The Arctic Council’s Uncertain Future. Marine Policy, 163, 106060.
  • Edvardsen, A. (2024). The Arctic Council with New Decisive Step Forward. High North News. https://www.highnorthnews.com/en/arctic-council-new-decisive-step-forward
  • Huebert, R. (2014). Rising Temperatures, Rising Tensions: Power Politics and Regime Building in the Arctic, in Stephens T. & Vanderzwaag D. (Eds.), Polar Oceans Governance in an Era of Environmental Change, (pp. 65-85). London: Edward Elgar Publishing
  • Hughes, T. (2024) Defence in the Arctic in 2024 (Policy Brief). North American and Arctic Defence and Security Network. https://www.naadsn.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Hughes_ Arctic-Defence-in-2024.pdf
  • Käpylä, J., & Mikkola, H. (2015). On Arctic Exceptionalism: Critical Reflections in the Light of the Arctic Sunrise Case and the Crisis in Ukraine (Working Paper, No 85). Finnish Institute of International Affairs.
  • Klimenko, E. (2016). Russia’s Arctic Security Policy: Still Quiet in the High North? (SIPRI Policy Paper No. 45). Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
  • Koivurova, T. (2022). Is it Possible to Continue Cooperating with Russia in the Arctic Council? Georgetown Journal of International Affairs – Global Governance. https://gjia.george town.edu/2022/06/29/is-it-possible-to-continue-cooperating-with-russia-in-the-arctic-council/
  • Kopra, S. & Wall, C. (2022). A New Climate: The Impact of Russia's War on a Melting Arctic. Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, Policy Paper (11.2022). 1-16. https://shop.freiheit. org/#!/Publikation/1349
  • Loon, V. K., & Zandee, D. (2024). Shifts in Arctic Security: Ripples of Russia’s War against Ukraine (Clingendael Policy Brief). Clingendael: Netherlands Institute of International Relations.
  • Olesen, M. R., & Sørensen T. N. (2019). Intensifying Great Power Politics in the Arctic. Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS).
  • Paul, M. (2023). US Arctic Security Policy (SWP Comment No. 40). Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP) – German Institute for International and Security Affairs.
  • Paul, M. (2024). Back to the Future of the Arctic (SWP Comment No. 18). Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP) – German Institute for International and Security Affairs.
  • Rahbek-Clemmensen, J. (2017). The Ukraine Crisis Moves North. Is Arctic Conflict Spill-over Driven by Material Interests? Polar Record, 53(1), 1-15.
  • Spence, J., & Chenok, H. (2024). The Future of Arctic Council Innovation: Charting a Course for Working-Level Cooperation (Workshop Report). Harvard Kennedy School Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Arctic Initiative.
  • Thomasen, G., Cervasio, C., & McClafferty, M. (2024). Arctic Diplomacy at Crossroads: Addressing Present and Future Geopolitical and Strategic Risks. British American Security Information Council (BASIC).
  • Vindevogel, B. (2022). The Arctic, a New Front for Great Power Conflict. Egmont Royal Institute for International Relations.
  • Wezeman, S. T. (2016). Military Capabilities in the Arctic: A New Cold War in the High North? (SIPRI Background Paper). Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
  • Winkel, J. (2023). The impact of the Ukraine War on the Arctic (Fokus No.5). Austria Institut für Europa und Sicherheitspolitik.
  • Young, O. R. (2019). Is it Time for a Reset in Arctic Governance? Sustainability, 11(16). 4497-4509.
  • Young, O. R. (2022). Can the Arctic Council Survive the Impact of the Ukraine Crisis? Georgetown Journal of International Affairs – Global Governance. https://gjia.george town.edu/2022/12/30/can-the-arctic-council-survive-the-impact-of-the-ukraine-crisis/
  • Zellen B. S. (2023), As War in Ukraine Upends a Quarter Century of Enduring Arctic Cooperation, The Northern Review, 54(1), 137-160.
There are 31 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Regional Studies, International Security, Politics in International Relations
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Emirhan Altunkaya 0000-0003-3244-2973

Early Pub Date August 4, 2025
Publication Date July 31, 2025
Submission Date April 28, 2025
Acceptance Date July 8, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Issue: 48

Cite

APA Altunkaya, E. (2025). DISRUPTED COOPERATION: IMPACT OF THE RUSSIA – UKRAINE CONFLICT ON THE ARCTIC COUNCIL. Uluslararası İktisadi Ve İdari İncelemeler Dergisi(48), 353-364. https://doi.org/10.18092/ulikidince.1684727

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