“The Arctic is becoming an arena of world politics”, Rogozin underlined during the meeting, but added that “we do not want a militarization of the region”.

According to the government represenative, known for his hardline attitude in national security issues, Russia’s prime focus in the Arctic lies in the development of its economic interests in the area, newspaper Rossiiskaya Gazeta reports.

“Our overall investments in Arctic activities in the period 2015-2020 amounts to 222 billion rubles (€4.4 billion)”, Rogozin said, adding that government money accounts for 160 billion rubles of the sum, Tass reports.

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin heads Russia’s new Arctic Commission.

The main objective with the new Commission is harmonization of government activities, including the activities of regional authorities, as well as the leading companies in the area. As previously reported, a total 60 people are part of the Commision, among them four cabinet ministers, the oil and gas industry, the ministry of Defence, the FSB, the Presidential Administration and regional governors.

Deputy Prime Minister Rogozin proposes to adopt a new Arctic Law, which can regulate overall legislation in the region. “We almost do not have any laws which regulate relations in the Arctic”, he said, RIA Novosti reports.

Both Barents governors Marina Kovtun and Igor Orlov participated in the Commission meeting and raised regional priorities.

While Governor Orlov called on the Commission to move the head office of the Northern Sea Route Administration to Arkhangelsk, Governor Kovtun highlighted that prices on electric energy in Murmansk should be reduced and that key economic stakeholders in Russian Arctic waters should be given exclusive areas of interest where they un-interupted can unfold activities, a press release reads.