New Russian Law on Northern Sea Route Navigation: Gathering Arctic Storm or Tempest in a Teapot?

Abstract

Amid increasing tensions between the West and Russia, Russia’s every move, both political and legislative, is under public scrutiny. A new law regulating the navigation of foreign warships in the Northern Sea Route, whose legal regime has been the subject of a long-standing U.S.-Russian dispute, has garnered much international concern and criticism. However, a sober analysis suggests that many observers’ interpretations of the new law and its implications for Arctic security are overblown.