Russian research vessel departs Murmansk for Laptev Sea amid Arctic territorial claims

A Russian research vessel has set sail from Murmansk to the Laptev Sea in the Arctic Ocean, as reported by the state-owned media GTRK Murman. The drill ship, named Bavenit, embarked on its journey in mid-August, aiming to demonstrate Russia’s rights to expand its territorial claims beneath the Arctic Ocean.

Research professor Timo Koivurova from the Arctic Centre of Lapland University believes that Russia’s expansion does not pose a direct threat to Western nations due to the challenging nature of the seabed. “Coastal states will have to negotiate borders in the Arctic region. It is worth considering how Russia will behave in these negotiations and what tensions this might raise. I see no other danger from this,” he stated.

Currently, there is a competition for sovereignty over the North Pole, involving Russia, Canada, and Denmark-Greenland. Koivurova advises Finland to closely monitor the struggle among Arctic coastal states since Finland is an active member of the Arctic Council.

Despite the tense geopolitical climate exacerbated by Russia’s actions in Ukraine, cooperation within the Arctic Council had remained sluggish since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. Nevertheless, there has been significant collaboration regarding the continental shelf, which is rare given the complicated relations between Russia and NATO countries.

While Russia adheres strictly to international maritime law, the reason for compliance is strategic: it allows for broader acceptance regarding its territorial expansions. All Arctic coastal states seek to extend their continental shelves to the maximum extent permitted by international guidelines. The United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf oversees these territorial claims and their legitimacy.

Arctic collaboration that has been stagnant is beginning to thaw, as expert groups within the Arctic Council resume their activities. These developments signal a gradual return to cooperative efforts despite the underlying tensions in the region.