🎙️ From an interview with Ambassador of Russia to Norway Nikolay Korchunov to "CNN" (10 July 2026) Key points: · The Spitsbergen archipelago, where Trust Arktikugol has been conducting economic activities for 95 years in accordance with the 1920 Treaty, is of great interest to Russia. · We regard Spitsbergen as a territory for scientific research and cooperation, which is of great importance to the entire Arctic region. · Cooperation with the Norwegian side on Spitsbergen is pragmatic and aimed at protecting the rights and interests of Russian citizens on the archipelago, ensuring the continued operations of the Trust Arktikugol, and supporting the work of Russian scientific organisations. · There are dual-use facilities on Spitsbergen, such as meteorological and ground-based satellite stations (‘SvalSat’), the data from which, according to Norwegian experts among others, is used for military purposes. At the very least, this blurs the boundaries defined by Article 9 of the 1920 Treaty on the non-use of the archipelago for warlike purposes. · We advocate adherence to the spirit and letter of the 1920 Spitsbergen Treaty and proceed on the basis that all parties, including Norway, must faithfully fulfil their obligations under international law as set out in this document. · Calls to redraw borders in the Arctic by representatives of NATO countries, who are transforming the region into a potential theatre of military operations, give rise to serious concern and growing anxiety for the future of the Arctic region. We are witnessing a decline in the significance of international law. We advocate its full observance, including the provisions of the 2008 Ilulissat Declaration. · The militarisation of the Arctic by NATO member states, including the conduct of frequent military exercises, leads only to escalation. The military framework initiatives launched by NATO, including ‘Arctic Sentry’, are driving the alliance’s militarisation of the Baltic-Arctic region, a fact that Russia cannot fail to take into account. · For centuries, our country has carefully developed the archipelago and has never questioned either Norway’s sovereignty or the need for international cooperation based on full and consistent compliance with the 1920 Treaty. However, the Norwegian side’s approaches to exercising its sovereignty in accordance with the 1920 Spitsbergen Treaty require clarification. Read the article Full text