Thread by @FletcherRussia

Today's Eurasia Club luncheon seminar is with @FletcherSchool @FletcherRussia Visiting Scholar Andrey Todorov. The topic for today's session is focused on #arctic governance.

"The U.S. is an #Arctic state and so are other countries many people chose to study in. Even Russia is an Arctic state. Hence it occupies an important place in foreign policy in myriad ways:" Andrey Todorov @FletcherSchool

Some of the topics the audience associated with #arctic

1. The Arctic is at the forefront of multilateral cooperation.
2. Wildlife conservation.
3. Melting ice caps and climate change.

Andrey Todorov: "What happens in the Arctic does not stay there."

"For many years, Arctic states tried isolating it from international problems, souring relations, and the concept of Arctic exceptionalism never took off." Andrey Todorov @FletcherArctic @FletcherSchool

"In recent years concept of Arctic exceptionalism is fading away." Andrey Todorov @FletcherSchool @FletcherArctic.

"Spill-over effects from conflict in Ukraine, Syria and mistrust between Arctic states and military activities is growing." Andrey Todorov @FletcherArctic

Andrey Todorov's question: Media storyline about scrambling for #arctic resources:

"This is a common widespread myth about the arctic. It is not a polar wild west and not a place of conflict. This is due to clear arctic governance forming for many decades."

"UNCLOS considered the constitution for the oceans. Other conventions exist including SOLAS Convention, MARPOL Convention, IMO, and Paris Agreement:" Andrey Todorov @FletcherArctic @FletcherSchool

"The 1920 treaty on Svalbard includes not only binding instruments but also political incentives and 5 Arctic states including Denmark, U.S., Russia, etc agreed that existing framework was sufficient for the #arctic." Andrey Todorov @FletcherSchool @FletcherArctic

"Up to 90% of oil and gas reserves in #arctic falls under the Special Economic Zones of the Arctic states. Offshore mining has enormous economic costs and needs a clear legal framework:" Andrey Todorov @FletcherArctic @FletcherSchool

"There are long-standing disputes between U.S. on one side and Canada & Russia on the other side. Multiple other issues are pending and they have been managed well through diplomatic means and have no potential to escalate in the future. Eg: Whiskey War:" Andrey Todorov #arctic

"Apolitical activities in Russia by international researchers have ceased. Most importantly, the trust between #arctic states has been damaged, and will take a lot of time to be restored:" Andrey Todorov @FletcherArctic @FletcherSchool

"The future of #arctic governance is unclear and depends on multiple factors - the outcome of the war, Russian governance, & actions/inactions:" Andrey Todorov @FletcherArctic @FletcherSchool

"Some Russian officials made statements that they invited foreign investments to make the Northern Sea Route viable for international shipping. But there will be no commercial shipping in the near-term:" Andrey Todorov @FletcherArctic @FletcherSchool

More details on conventions governing the #arctic. #AcademicTwitter

UNCLOS: un.org/depts/los/conv…

SOLAS: imo.org/en/KnowledgeCe…

MARPOL: imo.org/en/KnowledgeCe…

.@aburakovsky: #Arctic as a region for potential co-operation between Russia & China.

"More talks than deeds. expectations in the Arctic community about China's investment are over-expected and China does not act unless its interests are aligned:" Andrey Todorov @FletcherSchool