Thu Mar 20 22:03:55 UTC 2025: ## India and Russia Strengthen Arctic Collaboration Amidst Growing Tensions
**New Delhi, March 21, 2025** – Russian Ambassador to India, Denis Alipov, has highlighted India’s growing presence in the Arctic as a stabilizing factor amidst rising militarization and tensions fueled by NATO activities in the region. Speaking at an India-Russia Arctic conference, Alipov emphasized the importance of India’s constructive approach, contrasting it with what he described as the hostile actions of NATO countries that have negatively impacted the Arctic Council.
Alipov lauded the collaborative relationship between India and Russia, citing joint research projects in climate change, atmospheric studies, and other scientific fields. He noted existing collaborations between Indian and Russian research institutions, including a 2024 memorandum of cooperation on Arctic scientific research.
The ambassador also revealed ongoing discussions for Indian companies to participate in Russian Arctic energy projects, including those involving NOVATEK, Gazprom Neft, and Rosneft. Potential collaborations extend to the Yamal LNG and Arctic LNG-2 projects.
Further strengthening the partnership, Alipov announced that an intergovernmental memorandum is under negotiation to utilize the Northern Sea Route (NSR), the shortest shipping route connecting Eurasia and the Asia-Pacific region. This includes training Indian sailors for polar navigation. The NSR’s potential was also highlighted in a joint statement following Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Moscow last July.
The conference, organized by the Vivekananda International Foundation and The Northern Forum of Russia, underscored the shared commitment of both nations to maintain the Arctic as a zone of peace and stability, while simultaneously exploring its economic potential for mutually beneficial development. The availability of vacant research stations in the Arctic for Indian researchers was also mentioned as a potential avenue for further collaboration.
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