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OPINION OCTOBER 22, 2021 | The Indian Eye 16
rating on institution-building cy moves in the future. Simul-
and engaging in Track-II level taneously, to counter China’s
dialogues to shape perception soft power manoeuvres in the
of the Nordic states and dispel Arctic, India should also invest
fears about Chinese intentions. in image building amongst the
Through financial contribution Arctic states. For instance, to
to Arctic Council’s projects and highlight India’s polar identi-
sharing of information and sci- ty, the notion of the Himalayas
entific expertise, Beijing has being the Third Pole should be
made itself quite active within promoted more actively within
the council. It has also strived to the Nordic states through in-
increase its visibility in regional formational programmes. Cor-
affairs through its participation respondingly, the planned joint
in regional debates, scientific projects on scientific and tech-
and academic representation in nical knowledge sharing in the
Arctic Circle and Arctic frontier china is making big infrastructure projects all over the world Arctic should be fast-tracked
conferences. Further, China is to demonstrate India’s involve-
trying to develop dialogue fo- ic issues. India’s activities have ing? If the proposed PSR trade ment and interest in collabo-
rums from its own end to show- ranged from participating in In- route becomes popular, will ration. Building partnerships
case its scientific and business dia–Nordic Summit in 2018 to that adversely affect India’s with non-Arctic states like Sin-
expertise in the region. jointly organising virtual bilat- trade through the International gapore, Japan and South Korea
eral summits with countries like North South Trade Corridor? will also be beneficial to India
implications for india Finland, Sweden and Denmark Also, if China entrenches itself in the long-run for adding to its
ndia’s Arctic links go back in 2020 to discuss issues of trade, as a polar power, will China ex- weight within the Arctic Coun-
investment and climate change. ercise access denial strategies cil decision-making. Further-
to 1920 when British India On the other hand, India’s NITI against India during political or more, India can also seek to
Isigned the Svalbard Treaty. Aayog also signed a MoU with military tensions? These ques- strengthen its Arctic linkages
However, post-independence,
India focused primarily on con- Ministry for Development of tions might be easier to answer on the basis of shared political
ducting research activities in the Russian Far East and Arctic as the situation progresses in values like democracy, respect
the Antarctic, beginning its sci- in 2019 to deepen India–Russia the Arctic. However, in light for human rights and promo-
trade and economic cooperation of growing global ambition tion of inclusive international
entific expedition in 1981. The in the Arctic region, followed and resource needs on both order and women empower-
worrisome impact of Arctic by New Delhi signing MoUs the sides, the Arctic could be- ment. To that end, acknowledg-
warming on Indian monsoons with Norway, Sweden, Canada come another theatre of India– ment of these values as basis
shifted New Delhi’s attention
to the Arctic. India undertook and Finland on various issues China competition. There is of India–Nordic cooperation
its first scientific expedition to like biodiversity conservation, also a fundamental difference in the 2018 India–Nordic Joint
education and polar research. in the approaches of the two Press Statement was a positive
the Arctic in 2007. Thereafter, Affirming India’s commitment countries—China seeks a he- outcome. More cultural and ci-
it has been involved in mainly towards the region, the former gemonic position in the Arctic, vilian exchanges and dialogue
scientific research and techni- Minister of Earth Sciences, Dr both militarily and in terms of forums between the concerned
cal collaboration with Arctic Harsh Vardhan declared during its governance, while India is stakeholders would help in fur-
countries. In 2008, New Delhi
inaugurated its Arctic research the 3rd Arctic Science Ministe- more inclined towards scientif- ther strengthening India–Nor-
station “Himadri” in Norwe- rial in 2021 that India will con- ic collaboration, research and dic partnership.
gian Arctic, Svalbard to study tinue to play a positive role in joint natural resource explora-
the Arctic through observation, tion with Arctic countries. This Ms Mayuri Banerjee is Research
life-forms in Arctic and impact research, capacity-building and is likely to engender conflict of Analyst, East Asia Centre at
of climate change on the Arc- international cooperation. interest and widen the scope Manohar Parrikar Institute for
tic ecology. Following this feat,
within six years India in collab- Nonetheless compared to of disagreement between the Defence Studies and Analyses,
oration with Norway deployed China’s efforts in the Arctic, two countries regarding its gov- New Delhi.
an underwater moored obser- India’s endeavours are still at ernance and utilisation of re- Views expressed are of the author
a nascent stage. Meanwhile, sources.
vatory named IndARC to col- China’s rapid rise in the Arctic Therefore, besides acceler- and do not necessarily reflect the
lect real-time data on Arctic. raises a number of questions ating its engagement with the views of the Manohar Parrikar
India’s endeavours achieved a regarding India’s geo-political Arctic states, India should also IDSA or of the Government of
major milestone when in 2013 India.
it gained the observer status in and economic security. For in- look into opportunities of deep-
the Arctic Council. Since then, stance, in what ways China’s ening its participation in gover- This is the abridged version of
India has pursued a steady Arc- rise in the Arctic will increase nance, institution building, in- the article which appeared first
geo-political pressure on India? frastructure development and
in the Comment section of the
tic engagement with an eye to Should there emerge a China– resource exploration. This in website (www.idsa.in) of Mano-
promote bilateral and multi- Russia–US nexus in the future turn will help India strengthen har Parrikar Institute for Defense
lateral convergence on climate on the Arctic, how will that im- its voice within the Council and Studies and Analyses, New Delhi
change, strategic and econom-
pact India’s geo-political stand- resist China’s hegemonic poli- on October 21, 2021
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