The Arctic is the only region in the world where borders remain unregulated, and Russia, Norway, Denmark and Canada have all made submissions to the U.N. claiming ownership of the Arctic seabed and its buried treasures.
Mr Putin’s long-term plan includes the construction of some 13 airfields and 10 radar posts in the Arctic, whose assets also include thriving fisheries.
‘The Arctic has a strategic importance for Russia because of its significant reserves of oil and gas,’ Igor Korotchenko, editor of the Moscow-based journal National Defence, told The Times.
‘The conditions are very tough, especially in winter, so these new bases will allow Russian troops to be located there all year, and to control the airspace for hundreds of kilometres around.’
Already, some 150 Russian troops are reported to be seeing in the New Year in the Arctic Trefoil base, which is on the Russian island of Alexandra Land in the heart of the Arctic Circle.
Competition: Russia, Norway, Denmark and Canada have all made submissions to the U.N. claiming ownership of the Arctic seabed and its estimated billions of tonnes of oil and gas. Pictured, a drilling rig at the Val Gamburtseva oil fields in Russia’s Arctic Far North
Claim: The Arctic Circle is the only region in the world where borders remain unregulated, which is sparking international tension over its valuable resources. Pictured, a drilling rig at the Val Gamburtseva oil fields in Russia’s Arctic Far North
Russian’s defence ministry also announced this month that advanced S-400 air defence missiles are being established on the Novaya Zemlya archipelago and at the Arctic port of Tiksi.
The other five military bases, which are nearing completion, are on Kotelny Island in the New Siberian islands, Sredny Island in the Severnaya Zemlya archipelago, the Rogachevo settlement on Novaya Zemlya, and Wrangel Island and Cape Schmidt on the Chukotka peninsula.
Russia’s force also includes the warships and nuclear-powered submarines of the northern fleet based on the Kola peninsula, two units of mechanised infantry, snowmobiles and hovercraft.
Experts warned that this indicates that Russia is determined to use its military force, or the threat of military force, to insert itself in the ‘competition’ for resources.
But Russia is not the only nation to have stepped up its military designs on the Arctic.
Force: Vladimir Putin’s plan includes the construction of some 13 airfields and 10 radar posts in the Arctic, whose assets also include thriving fisheries. Pictured, Vladimir Putin on a visit to Alexandra Land in 2010
Struggle: The U.N. is expected to review Russia’s claim to the land, which insists two underwater ledges reaching towards the North Pole belong to its continental shelf, in February
British and American submarines have recently been located in the Arctic Ocean, while Canada has also increased its military presence and President Obama has proposed to launch the U.S. icebreaker fleet.
The Arctic seabed is so vitally important to the competing nations due to an estimated 90billion barrels of oil that lie beneath it.
The region is also said to be home to around 30 per cent of the world’s as-yet undiscovered natural gas.
The U.N. is expected to review Russia’s claim to the land, which insists two underwater ledges reaching towards the North Pole belong to its continental shelf, in February.
makati1 on Sun, 27th Dec 2015 7:46 pm
angel, you need to get out and see the real world. Most of it is as safe now as ever, but you are so terrorized by your own government’s propaganda that you are afraid of your shadow. You are more likely to be killed in you car on the way to work than to be killed by a real terrorist. Or struck by lightning. Or any other accidental death.
Even if those killed by terrorists were 1,000,000 per year, your chance would be about 1 in 7,000. About the same as being killed in a car accident or murdered in the US. Are you afraid to get into a car or to walk down the street? Maybe you should be.
Apneaman on Sun, 27th Dec 2015 8:06 pm
Peace on Earth: EU, US ‘Very Interested’ in Reconciling With Russia in 2016
“In an interview with the German news network Deutsche Welle, Stefan Meister, head of the program on Eastern Europe, Russia and Central Asia at the German Council on Foreign Relations, suggested that 2016 will see further rapprochement between Moscow and the West.”
Read more: http://sputniknews.com/world/20151226/1032326963/russia-west-relations.html#ixzz3vZq3eL00
GregT on Sun, 27th Dec 2015 8:24 pm
“No matter what Russians do to build up its force their. The US will just set and watch and do absolutely nothing about it.”
And what do you propose that the US do Michael? Invade Russia? The Russians have every right to build up forces wherever they like within their own country.
Apneaman on Sun, 27th Dec 2015 9:02 pm
Good luck up in the Arctic Vlad.
Warm Arctic Storm To Hurl Hurricane Force Winds at UK and Iceland, Push Temps to 72+ Degrees (F) Above Normal at North Pole
http://robertscribbler.com/2015/12/27/warm-arctic-storm-to-hurl-hurricane-force-winds-at-uk-and-iceland-push-temps-to-72-degrees-f-above-normal-at-north-pole/
makati1 on Sun, 27th Dec 2015 10:40 pm
Related:
http://www.ibtimes.com/why-russia-warming-more-twice-fast-rest-world-climate-change-experts-raise-concerns-2240034
Perhaps this is a good thing for the Russians? May open up the Arctic even more.
But then:
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/uae-dismisses-claim-gulf-heat-levels-will-become-intolerable-humans–610854.html
Maybe Mother Nature is in the process of leveling the playing field?
Apneaman on Mon, 28th Dec 2015 1:03 am
mak, I think cyber war might be how it goes in the end.
Will we go out with a whimper instead of a bang? Cyberwar more likely than nuclear war
“We’re far more vulnerable than any other nation to a cyberattack, since all of our 18 civilian infrastructure sectors rely 100% on the internet. They shouldn’t be connected to the internet or intranet AT ALL. But since our infrastructure is privately owned, and private companies hire lobbyists to prevent any government regulation because they don’t want to spend the money to take themselves off the network or make their networks more secure, all of these infrastructures within the United States are vulnerable: Agriculture, Banking and Finance, Chemical and Hazardous materials, Dams, Defense, Emergency services, Energy, Information technology, National monuments and icons, Nuclear power, Postal and shipping, Public Health, Telecommunications, Transportation, and Water and water treatment systems.
The Chinese and Russian government’s own the infrastructure and have gone to great lengths to protect their systems from attack. This has led to what the defense department and Homeland Security call “asymmetric vulnerability”.”
http://energyskeptic.com/2013/cyberwar-richard-clarke/
makati1 on Mon, 28th Dec 2015 1:46 am
Ap, I sure hope you are correct! But sanity is not well represented in Western world leadership these days. If the others are intelligent, they will set off an EMP high over Kansas and take out 99% of the US ability to do anything, even exist as a country.
Or they can bide their time and wait for it to disintegrate under it’s own bullshit and civil war. I wonder how many US nuclear plants would melt down the first week? The auto and plane crashes the first few minutes would take out millions. Interesting…
JuanP on Mon, 28th Dec 2015 8:13 am
2015 is the year Russia exposed Western barbarism, https://www.rt.com/op-edge/327205-2015-syria-nato-putin-migrants/
Davy on Mon, 28th Dec 2015 8:45 am
How about that Russian Ruble at a low point in 2015. How low can it go?
makati1 on Mon, 28th Dec 2015 9:40 am
Davy, what does it matter?
Answer: it doesn’t if their system works on rubles and is not tied to the USD.
I would be more worried about the USD being so inflated that it soon will end trade as it’s exports will be too expensive. I’ve noticed that many US items are no longer for sale here as they are getting too expensive. Consumers like me are switching to products from other countries. Caned goods from the US are about 50% more expensive now than they were 7 years ago and increasing faster every year.
Example:
Canned corn of equal size and quality-
US P49
Thai P27
Canned Kidney beans-
Us P87
Italy P43
Etc.