Moscow does not rule out that Western countries will return to cooperation with Russia on the Arctic, but it is too early to talk about this, according to Russian Ambassador to Norway Nikolai Korchunov.
"We do not exclude that common sense will prevail and will force Western countries sooner or later to return to full-scale cooperation in high latitudes [of the Arctic] in the interests of ensuring sustainable development of the Arctic region. But it's too early to talk about it yet," the ambassador told RIA Novosti.
The lack of a full-fledged dialogue leads to a decrease in the effectiveness of existing decision-making mechanisms by the Arctic states, Korchunov pointed out, including on non-military issues relevant to the entire region. This creates a space of uncertainty and vacuum that other players, primarily non-regional ones, will seek to fill, he noted.
Alex Shishlo, Editor in Chief of the European Bureau, Rough&Polished
