Russia decides to suspend its financial contribution to the Arctic Council. Created in 1996, this intergovernmental forum aims to optimize cooperation between the countries of the far north.
Unlike Antarctica, a protected continent where only unrecognized territorial claims are made, the Arctic has been a point of tension between the great powers since the middle of the 20th century. Norway, currently in the presidency, says it wants to maintain cooperation at the current level. But other Western countries do not share this openness and fear that maintaining cooperation with Russia could legitimize Russia's aggression.