“US Special Representative for the Arctic Admiral Robert J. Papp, Jr. will visit Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Russia for consultations with key Arctic stakeholders, January 15–27, ahead of the US assumption of the Arctic Council chairmanship in April 2015,” the statement read.
According to the release, during his visit Papp will meet with government officials, indigenous communities, representatives of non-governmental organizations along with scientific, academic, and business leaders.
Papp stated before that the Arctic Council needs Russia, and is supportive of Moscow’s continued engagement in its work.
On December 26, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin signed an updated version of the country’s military doctrine in which for the first time ever the protection of national interests in the Arctic was named among the main priorities for its armed forces in peaceful times.
Putin stated that Moscow is not planning to militarize the Arctic, but is taking the necessary measures to ensure its defense capability in the region.
The United States has a clear interest in preserving stability, security and cooperation in the Arctic, as outlined in the US National Strategy for the Arctic Region, Pentagon spokesperson Lt. Col. Vanessa Hillman told Sputnik earlier when asked to comment on Russia’s revised military doctrine.
Hillman then stressed that the Arctic is a harsh environment that rewards cooperation, not confrontation, and trusts to see cooperation there to continue.
