Russia and China conduct joint military exercises in the Arctic region and cooperate on projects such as Russia's export of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the Chinese market via the Northern Sea Route. However, this cooperation has a fragile structure due to the two countries' different Arctic policies and mutual distrust. While Russia becomes dependent on China for infrastructure investments in the Arctic due to sanctions and economic difficulties, China is taking diplomatic and economic steps to increase its presence in the region. China views the Arctic as a global common area, whereas Russia argues that the region should belong only to Arctic states. These differences show that, alongside mutual interests, a cautious approach underlies the cooperation. Additionally, it is noted that Russia is also struggling with challenges such as climate change, infrastructure problems, and population decline in the Arctic region. Russia is seeking alternative partners like India and the United Arab Emirates to reduce its dependence on China. The halt in the activities of the Arctic Council and the increasing influence of NATO in the region are escalating geopolitical tensions in the area.