Norway has stated a commitment to fair treatment for all Arctic Council member states during meetings of the council’s governing and working bodies. This position was reported by RIA News, citing remarks attributed to Nikolai Korchunov, the Chief Ambassador of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
According to Korchunov, the Norwegian Arctic Council Presidency had previously guaranteed that no country would be discriminated against in terms of invitations or admission to council meetings. He emphasized that Russia currently sees no signs of discrimination and noted that there is no confirmed date or venue for the upcoming Arctic Council ministerial meeting. It remains unclear who will represent Russia at that event. [Citation: Russian Foreign Ministry]
Earlier this year, Russia announced its withdrawal from the Barents Euro-Arctic Council. The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that, since March 2022, Western members of BEAC, including Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Finland, Sweden, and the European Union, have contributed to an almost paralysis of BEAC activities. Moscow also pointed out that the Finnish presidency had offered to transfer leadership to Russia in October 2023, but verification of such a rotation did not occur, indicating a break in the expected rotation principle. [Citation: Russian Foreign Ministry]
There has also been commentary from the Federation Council regarding Russia’s withdrawal from BEACBEAC-related activities and the implications for regional cooperation in the Barents region. The discussion reflects broader questions about how Arctic governance tools adapt to shifting geopolitical realities and the role of regional partnerships when participant states reassess their commitments. [Citation: Federation Council statements]
Analysts note that the Arctic Council operates within a complex web of multilateral diplomacy, where invitations, attendance, and leadership roles can be influenced by geopolitical dynamics. The current communications from Moscow stress that Russia continues to monitor developments and to participate where opportunities align with national interests, even as procedural norms within regional councils undergo scrutiny. [Citation: Arctic governance analyses]