BRUNSWICK, ME – U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), co-chairs of the Senate Arctic Caucus, issued the following statements supporting the decision of Arctic intergovernmental forums to publicly denounce Russia’s unprovoked attacks against Ukraine. As Russia continues their attacks on Ukrainian sovereignty, seven nations of the Arctic Council (all but Russia) released a joint statement condemning the invasion and have paused all meetings and engagements in Russia. The Arctic Economic Council also announced actions.

“In 1987, Mikael Gorbachev spoke of the Arctic as a ‘zone of peace’, where the nations of the Far North prioritize international cooperation and demonstrate respect for our allies and neighbors; 35 years later, Russia’s hostile and unprovoked attack of Ukraine goes against the charter of the Arctic Council,” said Senator King. “The Arctic Council and other intergovernmental agencies’ suspension of activities due to Russia’s invasion is entirely consistent with the standards and expectations of the region, and the United States will work to make sure any restoration of ties comes with the high, peaceful standards the Arctic Council has demonstrated for a generation.”

“The Arctic has long been a zone of peace where a rules-based order prevails. All Arctic nations must act in accordance with the values required to maintain that order, with respect for territorial sovereignty and basic human rights. However, Russia’s unprovoked and devastating war on Ukraine has both direct consequences and global ramifications that no country or institution can ignore,” Senator Murkowski said. “It’s important that we send a clear, united message to Russia that its current actions are inhibiting its ability to lead as the chair of the Arctic Council and the Arctic Economic Council right now.  The rest of the region must remain united in strident opposition to its deadly aggressions.”

The statements from the co-chairs of the Senate Arctic Caucus comes shortly after Canada, the Kingdom of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and the United States issued a joint statement on Arctic Council Cooperation condemning Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. The Arctic Economic Council also released a statement on March 1, 2022 after holding an Executive Committee meeting. Since 2021, Russia has chaired both the Arctic Council and the Arctic Economic Council for a term of two years.

As a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and co-chair of the U.S. Senate Arctic Caucus, Senator King is an advocate for Maine’s interests in the North Atlantic and Arctic region. King recently laid out the challenges and opportunities of a warming arctic in an article in the Wilson Quarterly, and in this year’s National Defense Authorization Act, he successfully secured the inclusion of provisions to increase America’s activity and opportunities in the Far North. Last year, Senator King applauded the U.S. Navy’s recently-released Strategic Blueprint for the Arctic – the publication represents a forward-thinking approach to achieving U.S. priorities in the Arctic, and stresses Maine’s critical strategic importance in the region. The Arctic Caucus supported inclusion of the Arctic Security Initiative included in the FY22 National Defense Authorization Act, initiated as an amendment by Senators Sullivan and King. Senator King previously introduced the Arctic Naval Focus Act of 2019 with Senators Sullivan and Murkowski, a bill that would direct the federal government to recognize the importance of the Arctic region to the United States’ national and economic security interests.