The Russian and Canadian Approach to Extra-Regional Actors in the Arctic

... extra-regional actors are already present in the Arctic, with China as a key player among them. Several Canadian analysts believe that Chinese initiatives should be welcomed, but they should be treated with caution. Common Interests and Risks for Russia and Canada Countries in East Asia — China, Japan, South Korea — are interested in revising the legal status of the Arctic. They advocate greater transparency in the region, support the idea of loosening Russian and Canadian control over the Northern Sea Route and the Northwest Passage, and call for the preferential use of these routes with a view to their future “internationalization.” In short, we can say that these countries want to revise the legal regime in the Arctic to the benefit of non-Arctic states. Russia ...