Russia And India Agree To Work Together On Nuclear And The Arctic

India and Russia have agreed to hold “regular bilateral consultations” on “Arctic-related issues” and expressed their satisfaction with the advancements in their multi-faceted cooperation regarding the Northern Sea Route, as stated in a joint declaration after the India-Russia summit on Friday (December 5, 2025).

India’s scientific interest in the Arctic goes back to before it became an independent nation, dating back to when the British Government signed the Svalbard Treaty in 1920.

This treaty granted Norway sovereignty over the Svalbard archipelago but also allowed citizens and companies from 48 signatory countries to have equal rights to engage in non-military, commercial, and scientific activities such as hunting, fishing, and mining, while banning military bases and fortifications.

In 2007, New Delhi initiated its first scientific expedition to the Arctic and set up Himadri, its inaugural Arctic outpost in Svalbard.

Indian scientists have been tracking the mass balance of Arctic glaciers and comparing them to those in the Himalayas.

Additionally, India has been actively participating in research related to Arctic oceanography, atmospheric studies, pollution, and microbiology.

Currently, over 25 institutes and universities in India are engaged in Arctic research.

The Arctic Council has 13 observer nations: France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, China, Poland, India, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

In 2014 and 2016, India launched its first multi-sensor moored observatory in Kongsfjorden and the northernmost atmospheric lab in Gruvebadet, Ny Alesund, both located in the Arctic region.

Up until 2022, India has successfully carried out thirteen expeditions to the Arctic.

With global warming speeding up the melting of polar ice, we can expect significant geological changes in the future that will open up new sea routes and present opportunities for minerals and metals.

India and Russia have also agreed to expand their cooperation in the nuclear energy sector, which includes support for the fuel cycle and life cycle to operate the Kudankulam nuclear power plant, as well as constructing the remaining nuclear power units at the site and setting timelines for equipment and fuel supplies.

Currently, two units with a capacity of 1,000 MW each are operational, while the other four units of the same capacity are under construction.

The full capacity of 6,000 MW at the Kudankulam site is anticipated to be reached by 2027.

The two countries also agreed to have “further discussions” regarding another nuclear plant, with India stating that it will “strive to” designate a second site in accordance with previously signed agreements.

Additionally, both nations agreed to speed up technical and commercial talks on the VVER (Vodo-Vodyanoi Energetichesky Reaktor) Russian nuclear reactors for design, research, and joint development of nuclear facilities.

Both countries also expressed their support for the “enhanced partnership” between the Indian Space Research Organisation and the Russian state-owned space corporation Roscosmos, focusing on the use of outer space for peaceful purposes.

Russia And India Agree To Work Together On Nuclear And The Arctic

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