10:00 10.07.2026
Resources, Ecology, and Status: Why the BRICS Countries Are Expanding Their Presence in the Arctic
© Russian Arctic and Far East Development
The Arctic agenda within BRICS took shape in 2015 during Russia's chairmanship of the association, when the "Polar and Ocean Research" track was launched within the working group on scientific and technical cooperation. Initially, this step was intended to draw greater attention to climate change in both the Arctic and the Antarctic, which undoubtedly affects all member states. However, over time, the interests of BRICS countries in the Northern Hemisphere expanded beyond the realm of science. An Arctic.ru correspondent gathered expert opinions on why the high latitudes appeal even to countries located below the equator, and how BRICS cooperation in the Arctic is evolving.
A Matter of Image
Today, BRICS comprises 10 countries: the core five of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and the Republic of South Africa, which gave the association its name, and five states that joined more recently—Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Ethiopia. All of them, regardless of their geographical location, strive to participate in the Arctic agenda to varying degrees.
The reason for this, as Maria Lagutina, a professor at the Department of World Politics at St. Petersburg State University, noted in her presentation at the forum "The Arctic — Our Common Home," lies not only in economic benefits and scientific interest.
"We pose the question: what does participation in Arctic affairs offer to non-Arctic countries of various levels and tiers? Well, today, it is a matter of image; it elevates their status on the world stage and serves as one of the main components of a kind of great-power status. In order to hold certain positions in the global hierarchy today, one must participate in Arctic cooperation," she emphasized.
In other words, the Arctic is such a globally significant region that involvement in its study and development boosts a country's status in the eyes of the international community. The format in which states establish their presence in this part of the world ultimately depends on their current needs and capabilities, as well as the geopolitical situation.
Having analyzed the current projects and declared intentions of all the association's member states in the Arctic, Maria Lagutina pointed out that the scientific cooperation track remains dominant within BRICS. Egypt, Indonesia, Ethiopia, and South Africa adhere exclusively to this track, participating in climate discussions and establishing ties between research centers.
However, the remaining states of the "Group of Ten," both within the framework of the association and in other formats, demonstrate a broader range of interests. For example, in light of recent events, Iran is exploring possibilities for altering logistics routes. According to experts, the North–South transport corridor could potentially provide the state with access to the Arctic.
Unloading materials for deploying the new North Pole 40 drifting station in the Arctic
© RIA Novosti / Anna Yudina
The UAE has actively engaged in cooperation in the energy and logistics sectors, including areas related to the development of the Northern Sea Route, and specific projects have already been launched in partnership with Russia.
Against the backdrop of its activities within the BRICS working group, Brazil even applied for observer status in the Arctic Council, but its application was denied.
"Nevertheless, the country has established ties in the energy sector, and a fairly large number of Brazilian experts, for example, work for energy companies in Canada and Norway. And in this way, they too demonstrate their involvement," Maria Lagutina said.
As for India and China, both countries hold observer status in the Arctic Council, and both express interest in cooperation in the Polar region; however, their level of activity differs noticeably. While the PRC has been developing its icebreaker fleet, conducting its own research, and participating in Russian projects for quite some time, India has entered the northern latitudes very recently.
"I would say 2025 was the year of India in the Arctic. A vast number of events took place across Russian and Indian platforms where the prospects for joint cooperation were discussed. And it is clear that three areas—science, climate, and energy—are indeed fundamental," the expert stated.
Alongside that, she underscored that a significant portion of the interaction between BRICS member states on the polar track takes place outside the association—in bilateral and multilateral formats. Moreover, one of the parties in these projects is almost always the only Arctic state within BRICS: Russia.
"Partners prefer to work with Moscow directly, very often bypassing the collective mechanisms of BRICS, viewing them as bureaucratic and more complex. It is harder for ten countries to come to an agreement than, for instance, for two or three," noted Maria Lagutina.
Multilateral cooperation is generally aimed at scientific research activities and is centered around the five "founding countries." The configurations of participants may vary, but Russia remains the key link in the majority of projects.
In bilateral interactions, which already encompass a broader spectrum of areas, the "Russia+" format dominates. And if one looks at the list of projects implemented and planned in the Arctic over the past decade, the second participant in the vast majority of cases will be China.
"Bilateral work is limited in its scope. Today, Russian-Chinese cooperation serves as the foundation, but we see that Brazil, India, and the United Arab Emirates are now gradually catching up and demonstrating their interest specifically in the Russian Arctic," the professor stated.
A Promising Partner
Among all BRICS members, it is India that could significantly expand its presence in the northern latitudes in the foreseeable future, experts believe. In 2022, the country formulated its Arctic policy, one of the foundational pillars of which is the building of national capabilities in the region.
As Raj Kumar Sharma, an Associate Professor at the Department of International Relations at SGT University and a Research Fellow at the NatStrat research center, noted, priorities also include scientific research, environmental protection, the economy, transport, communications, and the development of international cooperation. Energy, logistics, and science should form the foundation of Indian-Russian relations in the Arctic.As for energy, Indian investments are already flowing into the Russian Arctic—into hydrocarbon extraction projects and the exploration of new deposits. Furthermore, the import of oil and coal products from the Arctic continues to play a significant role and, according to the expert, is highly important for a country with a population of nearly 1.5 billion people, whose dependence on imports for several resources reaches 80 percent.
From a logistics standpoint, India is not as deeply interested in the Northern Sea Route as China, given its geographical location and the fact that the country itself is a major maritime power. However, the development of the North–South corridor will allow it to import energy resources, including via overland routes, and export its own products to the North.
"In addition, there are opportunities for cooperation in shipbuilding and ship repair, in the construction and modernization of port infrastructure in the Arctic, as well as in the development of space-based communication technologies in the Polar region," added Raj Kumar Sharma.
Progress is also being recorded in the scientific sphere: over the past five years, interaction between research organizations has intensified, and memoranda of understanding have been signed between several Indian scientific centers and Russia's Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute.
However, there are also a number of limitations to the expansion of cooperation. According to the expert, these include the sanctions policy, which requires a cautious approach to investments in Russian Arctic projects, as well as the Indian side's lack of advanced technologies for operating in northern latitudes.
An oil and gas condensate deposit in the Tazovsky District of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Area
© RIA Novosti / Maksim Blinov
As for energy, Indian investments are already flowing into the Russian Arctic—into hydrocarbon extraction projects and the exploration of new deposits. Furthermore, the import of oil and coal products from the Arctic continues to play a significant role and, according to the expert, is highly important for a country with a population of nearly 1.5 billion people, whose dependence on imports for several resources reaches 80 percent.
From a logistics standpoint, India is not as deeply interested in the Northern Sea Route as China, given its geographical location and the fact that the country itself is a major maritime power. However, the development of the North–South corridor will allow it to import energy resources, including via overland routes, and export its own products to the North.
"In addition, there are opportunities for cooperation in shipbuilding and ship repair, in the construction and modernization of port infrastructure in the Arctic, as well as in the development of space-based communication technologies in the Polar region," added Raj Kumar Sharma.
Progress is also being recorded in the scientific sphere: over the past five years, interaction between research organizations has intensified, and memoranda of understanding have been signed between several Indian scientific centers and Russia's Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute.
However, there are also a number of limitations to the expansion of cooperation. According to the expert, these include the sanctions policy, which requires a cautious approach to investments in Russian Arctic projects, as well as the Indian side's lack of advanced technologies for operating in northern latitudes.
The icebreaker Dudinka at Dudinka seaport
© RIA Novosti / Alexandr Kryazhev
As for work within the BRICS framework, Raj Kumar Sharma sees moderate prospects here. On the one hand, diversity is an advantage of the association, and Russia and India can act as a bridge for cooperation among other member states. On the other hand, one cannot turn a blind eye to the rivalry between India and China on the global stage, including the Arctic track.
"In the next 55 years, I do not see any prospects for a common RIC format, as the divide between India and China is too wide. It is possible only if Russia cooperates bilaterally with India and similarly with the PRC. In this regard, India's presence in the Arctic will stabilize Russia's dependence on China and, consequently, by supporting the strategic autonomy of the countries, maintain the balance in a multipolar world," the expert concluded.
A Choice between Sovereignty and Internationalization
Political contradictions between individual BRICS countries are not the only obstacle to the successful development of cooperation within the association in the northern latitudes, Maria Lagutina added. Differing levels of Arctic identity and the ratio of multilateral to bilateral formats of interaction—skewed in favor of the latter—inherently create an asymmetry that does not benefit the achievement of common goals.
Returning to the premise that a presence in the Arctic is a matter of image, hidden pitfalls emerge here as well, primarily for Russia. In their quest to achieve a certain status on the world stage, BRICS countries view the territories beyond the Arctic Circle as a global, rather than regional, space.
"Everyone is talking about the shifting balance of power between 'NATO plus Russia' within the Arctic Eight. But here, another balance of power is also forming, another, let's say, system, where we have the BRICS countries and the Western Arctic states. And this is a new emerging balance both in the region and in the world," Maria Lagutina remarked.
In this regard, one of the key issues for Russia becomes determining the balance between sovereignty and the internationalization of the Arctic Zone. As the largest polar power, it, alongside other countries in the region, advocates preserving the current governance system, where the Arctic Council serves as the leading platform. At the same time, many BRICS states are striving to expand the rights of observer countries in the Council and of countries generally involved in the development of the Arctic.
"Within the framework of BRICS polar cooperation, Russia acts as the coordinating country, and I think this trend will continue because it is an objective reality. But one of the most important obstacles to building a sustainable partnership could be the difference in their positions regarding the Arctic. If the association's members do not reach some kind of consensus, do not find common ground in this rhetoric, certain limitations on cooperation could arise here," the expert emphasized.
According to her, in this situation, Russia needs to more actively promote its own understanding of the Arctic agenda and coordinate cooperation with BRICS countries, relying primarily on national interests. Furthermore, it should employ a differentiated approach, based on the understanding that BRICS in the Arctic is not a single monolithic entity, but rather a collection of interest groups, with each of which relations must be built individually.
"Russia's Arctic strategy requires a 'roadmap' for working with non-Arctic countries and for working with BRICS states, so that our partners clearly understand us and so that we outline our own core interests, our vision, and fundamental points for ourselves," Maria Lagutina summarized.
