Science Diplomacy of Great Britain in the Arctic

Abstract

The article discusses the formation and development of the Arctic strategy of Great Britain. The author studies the scientific component in official government documents on the Arctic. London has incentives that its advanced science demonstrates to the world Britain’s close research, historical, cultural, commercial and military ties with the Arctic. The production of knowledge that will have a global reach is one of the main opportunities for the British government to influence the international community. The government of the Kingdom is well aware that the changes occurring in the Arctic due to ice melting can bring economic benefits in the near future. The tempting prospects motivate the UK to remain one of the world’s top leaders in supporting environmental protection and international cooperation in the region. On the one hand, Britain’s science diplomacy in the Arctic is a tool of reducing tensions and strengthening cooperation with Russia in the economic, financial and political spheres. On the other hand, the scientific activity of the Kingdom in the polar region is a means to consolidate the subarctic status of the country and legitimize its presence in the polar latitudes, which in the future may allow the UK to participate in political and economic processes of the Arctic resources distribution. The joint scientific activity of Russia and Great Britain currently remains, perhaps, one of the few tools that will improve relations between the two countries in the future, establish partnership and prove that mutual cooperation can be beneficial. At the same time, it is obvious that Russia remains the main geopolitical opponent of the UK in the region. From Britain’s perspective, it destabilizes the situation in the Arctic, prevents the protection and sustainable development of the region for the common good.