The Strategy for the Development of the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation and National Security up to 2020 (hereinafter — the Strategy) was developed in response to the Basics of the State Policy of the Russian Federation in the Arctic for the Period till 2020 and for a Further Perspective, approved by the President of the Russian Federation on September 18, 2008 (hereinafter — the Basics). Implementing the Strategy involves consolidating the resources and efforts of federal bodies of state power, bodies of state power of constituent entities of the Russian Federation whose territory includes all or part of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, and local authorities and organizations to address key issues related to the development of the Arctic zone and the national security in the Arctic.

Priority areas of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation and national security are: integrated socio-economic development of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation; the development of science and technology; the establishment of a modern information and telecommunications infrastructure; environmental security; international cooperation in the Arctic; provision of military security and protection, and protection of the state border of the Russian Federation in the Arctic. Comprehensive socio-economic development of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation in accordance with the Basics involves improving the state governance system for social and economic development of the Arctic zone, improving the quality of life of the indigenous population and social conditions for economic activity in the Arctic, developing the resource base of the Arctic zone through the use of promising technologies, modernization and infrastructure development of the Arctic transport system, modern information and telecommunication infrastructure and fishing industry.

The main mechanisms for the implementation of the strategy are the state program entitled Socioeconomic Development of the Russian Arctic Zone up to 2020, other public programs of the Russian Federation, federal and departmental target programs and sectoral strategies, regional and municipal programs, and programs of large companies with activities aimed at the comprehensive development of the territory of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. Implementing the Strategy involves creating a system for monitoring and analyzing levels of national security and socio-economic development of the Arctic zone, with the Arctic zone singled out as a separate subject of statistical surveys.