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UK Policy in the Arctic: Security as a New Priority

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Russian version

Zhilin R.E., Nazarenko T.G.

Specific entry: Political Processes and Institutions

Annotation

The article outlines the regulatory framework and military-political activities of the United Kingdom in the Arctic region. Particular attention is given to the state of the British Navy, which is analyzed as a key element underpinning the country’s presence in the area. The study traces the evolution of the Arctic’s role in strategic planning documents, reports issued by various parliamentary committees, and official statements by government representatives. The authors assess the frequency of references to Arctic issues within the UK’s institutional structures and observe a shift in focus from environmental and climate concerns to matters of security. In particular, there is growing emphasis on cooperation with NATO allies and countering Russia’s influence in the region. The study concludes that the UK’s actual military presence in the Arctic remains limited, primarily due to insufficient naval funding and the challenges associated with establishing military infrastructure in the region. These limitations are reflected not only in official documents, but also in the rhetoric of government representatives. Nevertheless, the United Kingdom has gradually established a comprehensive system of cooperation agreements with Arctic nations, which serves as the primary mechanism for expanding its regional presence, especially given the technological and logistical challenges. Amid the general trend of increased military presence by Arctic states, the UK's military and political engagement is expected to grow. This will likely occur through deeper cooperation with Norway and other Nordic countries, participation in NATO military exercises, and the gradual establishment of a sustained armed forces presence in Northern Europe.

About authors

Roman E. Zhilin, Research Assistant
Institute of Europe, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Mokhovaya, 11, Moscow, Russia
zgilok@yandex.ru , ORCID: https://orcid.org/009-0003-5247-4814

Tamara G. Nazarenko, Research Assistant
Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Profsoyuznaya, 23, Moscow, Russia
tamriko17@bk.ru, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9015-194X

Keywords

Arctic, United Kingdom, security, Navy, military and political activities, NATO

UDC

327(410+985)(985+410)(045)



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