International Arctic Forum begins in Russia's city of Murmansk

​​​​​​​By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - The VI International Arctic Forum (IAF) began Wednesday in the northern Russian city of Murmansk.

The two-day event brings together experts and leaders to address critical topics, including the extraction and processing of natural resources, the development of the Northern Sea Route (NSR), energy solutions, logistics improvements and urban modernization.

The forum was established to serve as a platform for exploring pressing socio-economic challenges facing Arctic regions while fostering multi-level cooperation to unlock the vast resource potential of the Arctic.

A key focus of discussions revolves around advancing the NSR, particularly in light of the 500th anniversary of its discovery.

Thursday is slated as the central day of the forum, highlighted by the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin at the plenary session alongside other high-ranking officials.

Organizers have noted that representatives from more than 200 countries are participating, though specific nations remain unnamed due to the current geopolitical climate.

The forum used to be a platform for the cooperation of countries with territory in the Arctic region, including the US, Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Finland, all of which are members of the Arctic Council.