✍️ Article by Ambassador of Russia to Indonesia Sergei Tolchenov, “The Arctic: From the Northern Sea Route to Greater Eurasia”, published in The Jakarta Post (October 29, 2026). Key points: • The Arctic holds a special place in Russia’s domestic and foreign policy. Maintaining peace and stability in the region, reducing national security threats and creating favorable external conditions for Russia’s socioeconomic development are among the key priorities outlined in the Concept of the Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation. • The Northern Sea Route (NSR) is central to the development of the Arctic. It is the shortest maritime route connecting the European part of Russia with the Russian Far East, running through the Arctic Ocean and, in part, the Pacific Ocean. Amid growing geopolitical uncertainty, the NSR is becoming an increasingly attractive alternative to traditional southern shipping routes. Its advantages include shorter distances, lower environmental impact and the economic benefits of reduced transit times, as well as greater security. Developing the full potential of the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor, of which the NSR is a key component, is therefore becoming a major priority for Russia’s cooperation with international partners in the Arctic. • The waters along the Northern Sea Route are free from piracy, armed conflict, military confrontation and territorial disputes. Russia’s efforts have played a significant role in preserving this situation, guided by the principle that the Arctic should remain a region of peace and cooperation. On the other hand, Western countries have increasingly treated the Arctic as an arena of geopolitical competition and sought to establish military superiority in the region. NATO continues to expand its military activities in the High North, including through operation Arctic Sentry, launched in February, 2026, to strengthen the Alliance’s military presence at high latitudes. • Russia maintains close cooperation with China and India on Arctic issues. There are also promising opportunities to strengthen ties with other BRICS members, including Indonesia. In April 2025, for example, the Far East and Arctic Development Corporation (KRDV) and the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) signed a cooperation agreement in Jakarta. It opened opportunities for expanding bilateral investment cooperation, enabling interested businesses to participate in joint sector-specific events and facilitating targeted business missions. KRDV representatives visited the Science and Technology Park of the University of Indonesia to discuss joint projects involving Russian and Indonesian research institutions and industrial companies in support of the development of Russia’s Far East and the Arctic Zone. Our countries are also deepening their cooperation in science and education. Links have been established between Gadjah Mada University (UGM) and Russia’s Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute. • Studying the Arctic is of strategic importance to Indonesia, particularly in understanding and anticipating the effects of global climate change. Conditions in the Arctic have significant implications for the environmental resilience of tropical countries and global sea levels, while developments in the region also carry wider geopolitical and economic significance, particularly with the opening of new maritime routes. • Russia is working to establish standards for responsible Arctic governance and sustainable socioeconomic development, while safeguarding the region’s natural resources and the cultural heritage of its indigenous peoples. It continues to promote the Arctic as an integral part of a broader Eurasian space of security and cooperation. As a key component of the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor, the Northern Sea Route is expected to play an important role in advancing Russia’s President Vladimir Putin’s flagship initiative to form the Greater Eurasian Partnership. Read in full