Moscow and Vladivostok, Russian Federation (31 August – 4 September 2026) – My first official visit to the Russian Federation since taking office as Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority provided me with an opportunity to recognize first-hand, through a series of high-level engagements, this Member State’s important role in the exploration regime of the Area, as well as its continued support for multilateralism and the central role of the ISA under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
In Moscow, I was welcomed by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mr. Alexander Alimov. We were able to discuss the importance of ensuring that any activities in the Area take place through a multilateral framework, a position shared by both the Russian Federation and the ISA. Another topic raised during our meeting was the ongoing efforts being made to determine how the ISA and BBNJ Agreement can coexist without infringing on each other’s rights.
The Deputy Minister Alimov also noted developments within the Legal and Technical Commission and the Finance Committee of the International Seabed Authority, while emphasizing the importance of strengthening Secretariat policies, procedures and institutional processes.
With the Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, H.E. Mr. Konstantin Tsyganov, I highlighted the longstanding and valuable engagement of the Russian Federation with the ISA, and its important role in the exploration regime through four exploration contracts – two for polymetallic nodules (one of them within the Interoceanmetal Joint Organization), one for polymetallic sulphides and another for cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts.
The occasion also marked the signing of the agreement extending, for five more years, the contract between the ISA and JSC Yuzhmorgeologiya for the exploration of polymetallic nodules – a concrete expression of our continuing cooperation.
Over more than two decades under exploration contracts with ISA, these four exploration contracts have contributed to the development of scientific knowledge, technical expertise and exploration experience in the Area across the mineral resources regulated by the ISA.
I expressed to the Deputy Minister of Natural Resources my appreciation to the Russian Federation for its longstanding engagement with the Authority, including through its active participation in the work of the Assembly and Council.
My next stop was Vladivostok, a port city in the Pacific, in the south of Russian Far East. There, I was honored to be joined by the Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation, H.E. Mr. Dmitriy Tetenkin, during my engagements.
It was a great pleasure to be invited to attend the XI Eastern Economic Forum, a leading platform for developing the economy of the Russian Far East and expanding international cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, where I delivered a speech during the panel “Mineral Resources: Exploration, Production and Processing Technologies.”
I briefed the audience on the cooperation between the Russian Federation and the ISA, especially the country´s indispensable support of the ISA. In my remarks, I also emphasized that while Member States carry the Mining Code negotiations forward, technology is evolving fast. For the ISA, technological progress must support trailblazers, fit for purpose and precise exploration, better knowledge, and strong environmental safeguards.
This is why discussions such as this one at the Eastern Economic Forum matter. By bringing together governments, scientists, industry and technology experts, the Forum provided an opportunity to exchange experience and consider how advances in exploration, potential production and mineral processing can meet demanding scientific, technical and environmental requirements.
When commercial exploitation is authorized, responsible performance will need to be demonstrated across the full value chain, not only at the seabed. I am confident that Russia has an important contribution to make in the next phase of this work, and I look forward to advancing the work with the Russian Federation and other Member States.
A commitment to transparency has been at the core of my mandate, and it was therefore a pleasure to be interviewed in Vladivostok by the RIA Novosti news agency. The interview provided an important opportunity to engage with Russian audiences and highlight the importance of UNCLOS, scientific cooperation, responsible exploration and environmental protection.
My final engagement in the Russian Federation was a visit to the Primorsky Oceanarium, which brought an important marine science and biodiversity dimension to the mission and underscored the strong connection between ocean mandate, environmental stewardship and the work of the Authority.
Overall, the mission provided a valuable opportunity to recognize the Russian Federation’s important role in the ISA’s exploration regime and reaffirmed the importance of continued cooperation within the framework of UNCLOS.
Leticia Carvalho,
Secretary-General, International Seabed Authority