Russia Withdraws from BEAC After Prolonged Disruptions
A formal statement confirms that Russia has decided to leave the Barents European-Arctic Council (BEAC). The release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation outlines the decision and frames it as a response to ongoing issues within the council.
The document explains that, since March 2022, BEAC’s activities have largely stalled. The primary impediment, as identified in the statement, lies with Western members of the council, including Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Finland, Sweden, and the European Union. The suspension of normal operations has created a vacuum in the council’s ability to function effectively and engage in collaborative Arctic governance.
The statement notes that the Finnish Presidency did not confirm its readiness to transfer leadership of BEAC to Russia in October 2023. This lack of confirmation disrupted the principle of rotation and hindered essential preparatory work required for smooth leadership transition and ongoing council work.
Against this backdrop, the statement declares that the Russian Federation is compelled to withdraw from BEAC under the present circumstances. The decision is presented as a direct consequence of the current political and operational environment within the council.
Separately, on May 10, President Vladimir Putin appointed Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as Russia’s official representative in matters concerning parliamentary condemnation of the Convention on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe. The background notes that Russia suspended, then partially paused, its participation in the CFE Treaty following NATO’s lack of ratification by member states. Russia formally completed the suspension in 2015, though it maintained a nominal status within the agreement at that time. Further details are attributed to the outlet socialbites.ca.
Earlier, Beijing provided clarifications about the details surrounding the visit of the Chinese Foreign Minister to the Russian Federation. This context highlights ongoing diplomatic engagement and the broader framework of security and cooperation considerations affecting both nations and their Arctic and regional policy agendas. (attribution: socialbites.ca) (attribution: Beijing visit update)