The Parliamentary Committee on External Affairs has put forward a report advising the Indian government to appoint a Polar Ambassador and pursue full membership in the Arctic Council. This move is intended to enhance India’s participation in Arctic activities.
Currently, India holds the status of one of 13 observer nations within the Arctic Council, which consists of eight member countries with territorial claims in the region. As observers, these nations lack voting rights and are prohibited from making financial contributions or conducting direct research in the Arctic.
The committee emphasized the necessity for India to establish an ambassadorial role dedicated to polar affairs, comparable to similar positions held by other nations. This initiative would not only amplify India’s commitment to polar regions within its foreign policy framework but also enable a more effective articulation of its stance on polar diplomacy.
In light of the suspension of various Russian research projects in the Arctic due to the Ukraine conflict, the committee urged India to leverage its diplomatic relationships to encourage the involvement of Russia in scientific endeavors in the region, which is undergoing significant climate alterations with global repercussions.
Additionally, the committee recommended that the Indian government investigate opportunities to access Russian Arctic research stations.
The Ministry of Earth Sciences, which focuses on polar research, stated, “For a comprehensive understanding of the Arctic, India must engage with the Russian Arctic. The Arctic research facility in Chersky, located in northeastern Siberia, is among the largest in the world, specializing in Arctic biology, geophysics, and atmospheric physics, and is situated on ancient permafrost, making it ideal for permafrost studies.”
The committee also advised the government to devise a strategy that reinforces India’s position as a representative of the Global South. It proposed enhanced collaboration among Asian observer nations in the Arctic Council, suggesting the formation of a quadrilateral partnership with Japan, South Korea, and Singapore.
Furthermore, the committee recommended broadening the Arctic policy agenda beyond scientific issues to encompass geopolitical strategies, similar to approaches adopted by other countries. It highlighted the importance of discussing the extraction of minerals for pharmaceutical ingredients, components used in air conditioning, and other critical resources as part of diplomatic conversations in the region.
