The Arctic is a global bellwether for climate change and indigenous peoples’ rights and traditions, as well as a “health check” on the durability of international laws and norms. Red Artic challenges the widely held assumption that the Arctic is headed for strategic meltdown, emerging as a theater for a literal (new) Cold War between Russia and the West.
Buchanan explains that Putin’s Arctic strategy relies heavily upon international cooperation with foreign energy firms and injections of foreign capital: conflict will be bad for business. Russia needs a “low tension” environment to deliver on Russia’s critical economic interests.
Red Arctic charts Arctic strategy under Putin from how it is formulated, what drives it, and where it’s going. In cautioning against assumptions of expansionist intent in the region, Buchanan calls for informed judgment of the real drivers of Russian Arctic strategy.
By exploring the broader context of Putin’s actions, the book fills a gap in literature. It will be of interest both to specialists and to anyone interested in relations between Russia and the West as well as the numerous questions about how the Arctic region will be exploited—and who will do the exploiting.
Elizabeth Buchanan is Head of Navy Research at the Royal Australian Navy’s Sea Power Centre. Dr. Buchanan holds a PhD in Russian Arctic Strategy under Putin, specializes in polar geopolitics and is a Non-Resident Fellow of the Modern War Institute at West Point Military Academy. She is an Affiliate of the US Department of Defense’s George Marshall Center.
In the midst of a mounting crisis involving the West’s relationship with Russia, Elizabeth Buchanan offers a counter-intuitive reading of President’s Putin strategy towards the Arctic. For all the talk of GPS-jamming, border incursions, underwater sabotage, Russia actually requires a stable, orderly and co-operative environment in the ‘Red Arctic’. And this book explains how, why and when. — Klaus Dodds, Professor of Geopolitics, Royal Holloway University of London and co-author of The Scramble for the Poles (2016) and The Arctic: A Very Short Introduction (2021)
As a Cold War submariner, I found Elizabeth Buchanan’s Red Arctic refreshing and hopeful, because she provides evidence of Moscow’s historical penchant to opt for low tension in the Arctic. Should the West choose to confront Russia in the high north, it will invariably drive Russia into the arms of China, a self-proclaimed Near-Arctic Nation. Of the book’s three futures: Arctic Armageddon, Arctic Meltdown, and Arctic Entente, the latter seems the most preferable, but also the most difficult, considering the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. — Admiral James G. Foggo (ret), Dean of the Center for Maritime Strategy, former Commander of US Naval Forces Europe-Africa, Commander of Allied Joint Force Command Naples and Commander of the US Sixth Fleet
Amongst the many casualties of the current conflict with Russia is nuance. Elizabeth Buchanans ground-breaking study of Russian policy towards the Arctic challenges lazy stereotypes of the region becoming the focus for a new, very cold war, and instead highlights the degree to which Moscow wants - needs - to collaborate here. As such, this book is important now, and will continue to be so, regardless of Putins fate. — Mark Galeotti, School of Slavonic & East European Studies, University College London
Red Arctic is undoubtedly one of the most useful books ever written on Arctic security. It is essential reading for policymakers seeking to better understand how and why their governments can maintain constructive dialogue with the Russian Federation in order to preserve peace and prosperity in the Arctic region. You can be sure this book will prove a valuable reference for NWC students and faculty." — Walter Berbrick, Professor & Director, U.S. Naval War College and former Senior Arctic Advisor, Department of State and Department of the Navy
