Russian foreign policy towards the Svalbard archipelago crisis: Norway's response

Abstract

This research addresses the topic of Russian foreign policy in the context of the Svalbard crisis in Norway. This crisis is one of the regional priorities of Russian foreign policy in preserving its strategic interests in the Arctic region. The Russian strategy for developing the Arctic and ensuring national security for the period until 2035 sheds light on ensuring the Russian presence in the Svalbard archipelago, especially after the recent crises between Russia and Norway. Therefore, the research aims to understand Russian foreign policy's management of the Svalbard crisis in Norway. The importance of this research lies in its study of the contentious issues in the Arctic region, considering the different approaches of the two parties (Russia and Norway). The research includes two chapters, in addition to an introduction and a conclusion. The first deals with the importance and status of the Svalbard archipelago in Russian foreign policy, while the second deals with the Russian foreign policy position on the Norwegian Svalbard archipelago crisis. From this perspective, the goal of Russian foreign policy in the Svalbard region is to preserve its strategic interests and restore its international standing. The escalating crisis in relations between Russia and Western countries has led to the politicization of cooperation issues in the Arctic region. Despite differences in national interests, differences in positions on Spitsbergen and other issues in Russian-Norwegian relations in the Arctic, a constructive stance and a desire to find a compromise remain. The prevailing trend is the one that is being discussed.