WASHINGTON, September 24 (HS/RIA Novosti) - Canada risks undermining the Arctic Council’s work by attempting to shift discussions of key issues to a narrower format without Russia's participation, Russian Ambassador to Canada Oleg Stepanov told RIA Novosti.

By formally reaffirming the importance of this multilateral forum for itself, Ottawa is effectively making it clear that it is not opposed to disrupting the work of the Arctic Council, Stepanov said.

According to the Russian diplomat, Canada has been attempting for several years to shift discussions of key Arctic issues to a narrower format among the region's Western countries, which are members of NATO.

At the same time, Ottawa officially continues to call the Arctic Council the leading platform for multilateral cooperation in the region and declares its intention to strengthen its work. In May 2025, all eight Arctic states, including Russia and Canada, reaffirmed the Council's importance as the primary forum for circumpolar cooperation and the need to maintain dialogue among all its participants.

The Arctic Council brings together the eight Arctic states - Russia, Canada, the United States, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Finland, and Sweden. It was established in 1996 as the main intergovernmental forum for cooperation in the region, primarily on issues of sustainable development and environmental protection.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar