Political and economic determinants of the military expansion of Russia in the Arctic

The book offers an in-depth analysis of one of the key areas of contemporary security policy of the Russian Federation – the militarization of the Arctic. The authors present the Arctic not as a peripheral region, but as a central element of Russia’s state strategy, combining energy, transport, economic, and military interests into a coherent long-term great-power concept.

The publication shows how, since 2005, Russia has consistently used the Arctic to build its status as an energy superpower and as an instrument of international influence. Particular attention is devoted to the significance of the Northern Sea Route, the expansion of transport infrastructure, and the role of the Northern Fleet as a pillar of conventional and nuclear deterrence. The authors analyze both the political and economic determinants of this process, as well as its acceleration following Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and in the context of rivalry with the United States and China’s growing presence in the region.

The book is based on an analysis of Russian strategic documents, propaganda materials, and media sources, which makes it possible to reconstruct the actual goals and scale of Russia’s military presence in the Arctic. It is the first comprehensive study presenting the militarization of the Arctic as a deliberate, systemic element of Russian security policy and resource-based economic strategy.

The book is particularly recommended for:

• researchers of international security and geopolitics,
• analysts of Russian and Arctic policy,
• anyone interested in great-power rivalry, energy policy, and the military significance of the Arctic.