INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
and Russian officials are checking out potential cooperation on Arctic trade paths and resource expedition after they held high-level talks
recently, Bloomberg reported Wednesday, mentioning confidential sources acquainted with the discussions.Negotiator and Russian Direct
Investment Fund CEO Kirill Dmitriyev informed press reporters on Feb
18 that the 2 sides had talked about joint projects in the Arctic during the U.S.-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia, the first given that Moscows
2022 invasion of Ukraine.Moscows focus on Arctic issues was highlighted by the involvement of Vladimir Proskuryakov, a Russian Foreign
Ministry official specializing in Arctic affairs, inlast weeks talks.Washington views Arctic cooperation as a potential way to drive a wedge
in between Moscow and Beijing, Bloomberg pointed out one source as stating
However, the source noted that the effort is unlikely to be successful due to the Russian-Chinese no-limits partnership.Bloombergs report
did not define which Arctic projects were discussed at the Saudi Arabia talks.Russia and the United States are amongst eight Arctic nations,
while China stated itself a near-Arctic state in 2018
Department of Defense has formerly cautioned of growing Russian-Chinese alignment in the region.In 2012, U.S
oil giant ExxonMobil partnered with Russias state-owned Rosneft to invest $500 million in Arctic and Black Sea oil exploration
ExxonMobil withdrew from the joint venture in 2018 due to Western sanctions over Russias 2014 annexation of Crimea.Hundreds of Western
business have because exited Russia following its major intrusion of Ukraine.
