The
Russia-Ukraine Conflict, Breakdown of US/West-Russia Relations and Environmental
Security in the Arctic and the Baltic Sea Region
K.
B. Usha
(Jawaharlal
Nehru University)
Abstract
This paper examines the intersection of the Russia-Ukraine Conflict, the breakdown of US/West-Russia relations, and the environmental security in the Arctic and Baltic Sea Region (BSR). Russia’s “special military operation” against Ukraine launched in February 2022 led to the US-led West and NATO’s unrestrained sanctions and equipping Ukraine with lethal aid for a counter-offensive, disrupting relations with Russia. The conflict caused severe humanitarian crises and environmental damage with potential spillover effects on neighbouring areas. While conflict-induced geopolitics and humanitarian crises gain more attention, the transboundary environmental security consequences in the environmentally vulnerable Arctic and BSR are overlooked. The suspension of Russia, uniquely positioned as the indispensable state in the Arctic and BSR, from environmental governance institutions hampering cooperation and scientific research collaboration vital for a sustainable future. Therefore, being a silent victim of conflict with unknown, damaging and planetary-scale security implications, the environment drives an urgent ceasefire and environmental peace-building process to save humanity and the planet.
Keywords: Arctic, Baltic Sea Region, Environmental security, Geopolitics, NATO, Russia-Ukraine Conflict, US/West-Russia Relations