Putin starts Scandinavia tour

Putin today for the first time puts his feet on Danish soil. When president, Putin refused to visit the Scandinavian country because of its position on exile Chechen rebels. Now, however, Russian-Danish relations are on a more pragmatic track. Thus, on the meeting agenda will first of all be issues of industrial cooperation, including in the Arctic.

A press release from the Russian Government confirms that energy, transportation and the Arctic will be the top negotiation points for the meetings. Putin will bring with him both Gazprom leader Aleksey Miller and Russia’s richest man Vladimir Lisin, Reuters reports. On the program is also a visit to Møller Maersk, the Danish shipping and drilling company which eventually could get a role in the development of Russian offshore hydrocarbons.

Read also: Gazprom, Maersk talk Arctic cooperation

In addition, the Russian delegation will visit the Dong energy company, which Gazprom reportedly is considering to invite to joint projects in the Arctic. The Prime Minister will meet with both his Danish counterpart Lars Løkke Rasmussen and the country’s Queen Margrethe, the Danish government website informs.

When landing in Stockholm later on Tuesday, the Arctic will remain a top discussion point. Here, however, the role of the Arctic Council is likely to get the key piece of attention. Sweden will soon take over the chair of the council and is itself in the process of elaborating a national Arctic Strategy. Sweden is currently also chairing the Barents Euro-Arctic Council.

Read also:Sweden makes Arctic Strategy

Sweden takes over the chair of the Arctic Council in a session in Nuuk, Greenland, on May 12. In a presentation at the country’s government website, the country’s Arctic Ambassador Gustaf Lind outlines the Swedish priorities for the chairmanship period, among which will be issues of environment, climate, and search and rescue cooperation.