Russia is the largest Arctic country, with a territory covering more than half of the Arctic Ocean coastline and 2.5 million Arctic inhabitants. The Arctic constitutes an integral element of Russia's identity, economic development, military and environmental security. Russia attaches special attention to the Northern Sea Route as an important transportation system. One of Russia's key Arctic priorities has been maintaining peace and stability in the region, including through international cooperation. Russia officially maintains its position concerning the existing Arctic legal framework and has left itself room to manoeuver in terms of the potential resumption of cooperation with the Arctic States.