Webinar: Shifting Ice—Russia’s Increasing Reliance on the Private Sector and the PRC in the Arctic

In this webinar, two of our intelligence experts, Travis Whitworth and Shane Beck, detail the unprecedented levels of cooperation between the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in the Arctic region since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. 

This webinar is based on Strider's latest report, Shifting Ice. In this report, our Global Intelligence Unit reveals how the ongoing war in Ukraine and persistent geopolitical isolation are forcing Moscow to adjust its strategy to develop and control the Arctic region.

As a result, Moscow has shifted towards increased reliance on companies owned by the PRC and private investments to facilitate the development of the Northern Sea Route (NSR) and the infrastructure for energy exploration, processing, and transportation.

Travis and Shane will expound on the genesis of this report, background information, and additional context and insights. They will also discuss the impact these changes will have on Western organizations. They'll also share how Arctic stakeholders can prevent the region from falling entirely within Russia and the PRC’s sphere of influence.

This webinar will be moderated by Chris Gragg, Principal Intelligence Advisor.

Tuesday, April 9^th @ 9:00 a.m. MT

W. Travis Whitworth is a Senior Director of Global Intelligence at Strider. Travis leads the Global Intelligence Unit, which specializes in client engagement, tailoring analytic products and briefings, and managing projects that are particularly sensitive or complex. 

Before joining Strider, Travis had a 22-year career at the Central Intelligence Agency where he was a leading expert in East Asia security issues. He led numerous analytic units and served multiple tours in CIA Stations in East and Southeast Asia. Travis also served as a U.S. Marine with multiple deployments to East and Southwest Asia.

Shane Beck is a Senior Intelligence Advisor at Strider. Leveraging his Russian language skills and cultural expertise, Shane exploits open-source information to identify how Russia conducts economic espionage.

Prior to joining Strider, Shane spent a decade within the intelligence community. Shane has worked as an Intelligence/Language Analyst at the NSA, an NSA Detailee assigned to FBI's Washington Field Office, and a Russian Linguist contracted by the Air Force in Alaska. Shane has extensive experience in counterintelligence-related issues.

Shane has a B.A. in International Studies and World Languages from West Virginia University and an M.A. in Security Studies from Georgetown University.

Chris Gragg is a Principal Intelligence Advisor at Strider. Chris combines his expertise in state-sponsored economic statecraft with Strider data and software tools to generate custom datasets and analysis to help safeguard organizations.

Prior to Strider, Chris worked at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington D.C. where he led trade and investment policy analysis and advocacy on behalf of member companies. He also worked for Ogilvy Public Relations in Beijing where he advised business leaders on their government relations strategies.

Chris holds an M.A. in International Economics and International Relations from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and a B.A. in International Studies, Chinese, and Spanish from Miami University. Chris lived in the PRC for 10 years and has traveled extensively in the region. He is fluent in Mandarin Chinese.