Media: US, Russia consider joint exploration of natural resources in Arctic

US and Russian officials are exploring potential economic cooperation in the Arctic, with discussions focusing on natural resource exploration and new trade routes, according to sources familiar with the matter.

This development forms part of a broader strategy by former President Donald Trump to foster détente with Moscow, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The talks, which are still in their early stages and have remained private, have centred around energy exploration, with the US viewing Arctic cooperation as a possible avenue to reduce tensions between the two powers. The initiative comes as both the US and Russia have signalled their willingness to engage in business ventures, alarming European and NATO allies who have been working to isolate Moscow since its invasion of Ukraine.

One individual familiar with the talks suggested that US officials hope Arctic collaboration could drive a wedge between Russia and China, although this is seen as an unlikely outcome due to the deepening ties between Moscow and Beijing, particularly after the onset of the Ukraine conflict.

US and Russian diplomats are set to meet in Istanbul on February 27 to discuss restoring embassy staffing levels, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The meeting is seen as part of broader efforts to ease tensions between the two countries.

The Arctic, an area encircled by Russia and several NATO members, including the US, Canada, and Nordic countries, has gained increasing attention in recent years due to the effects of climate change. The melting ice is opening new shipping routes, and experts believe the region holds vast potential for energy and mineral exploration.

Russian Direct Investment Fund head Kirill Dmitriev confirmed that cooperation on Arctic energy projects was among the specific topics discussed during recent US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia.

While the Biden administration has expressed concern over China and Russia’s growing cooperation in the region, particularly following China's 2018 declaration as a "near-Arctic state," the US has developed a new Arctic Strategy. Released late last year, the Pentagon’s policy aims to expand military readiness and surveillance in the face of increasing Chinese and Russian presence.

China’s involvement in the Arctic has intensified, with the country investing in fishing, energy, and transportation interests in the region. Additionally, Beijing’s vision of a "Polar Silk Road" aims to create a new trade route connecting East Asia, Western Europe, and North America, leveraging the potential of new Arctic shipping lanes.

By Vugar Khalilov