Discussion
Since Russia’s full-scale military invasion of Ukraine in 2022, geopolitical confrontation between Russia and the advanced industrialized countries has intensified, often taking on a geoeconomic dimension that directly involves economic instruments and competition. In this context, the Arctic has emerged as one of the key arenas of confrontation.
At the same time, under President Putin’s fifth term, which began in May 2024, Arctic policy appears to occupy a particularly high priority on the Russian political agenda. In March 2025, an international forum entitled “The Arctic: A Territory of Dialogue” was held in Murmansk, where President Putin delivered a notably forceful speech. Following this forum, he issued instructions to the government regarding concrete measures for the implementation of Arctic policy.
Against this background, this presentation examines the main pillars of Arctic policy under the current Putin administration. In particular, it analyzes the development of the “Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor,” the promotion of the shipbuilding industry, the expansion of the influence of the state-owned nuclear corporation Rosatom, and the designation and development of “hub cities” in the Arctic region.
