The new Foreign Policy Concept of the Russian Federation defines the Arctic as one of Russia’s regional foreign policy directions. The new document that replaced the previous 2016 concept notes: “Russia is seeking to preserve peace and stability, enhance environmental sustainability, reduce threats to national security in the Arctic, create favourable international conditions for the social and economic development of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation (including to protect the original habitat and traditional livelihood of the indigenous people living there), as well as to advance the Northern Sea Route as a competitive national transport corridor making international transportation between Europe and Asia possible.” 

The President of Russia endorsed the convention of the concept on March 31, 2023. 

The document also notes that Russia will focus “on peacefully resolving international issues, related to the Arctic; counteracting unfriendly states' policies aimed at militarization of the region and limiting Russia's ability to exercise its sovereign rights in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation; ensuring the unalterability of the historically established international legal regime of the inland maritime waters of the Russian Federation; and establishing mutually beneficial cooperation with non-Arctic states who pursue a constructive policy toward Russia and are interested in international activities in the Arctic, including developing the infrastructure of the Northern Sea Route.”