- 24 Jul 2018 08:08
#14935184
With growing international competition for access to energy resources, the possession of which determines the economy of the world's leading countries, there is an increasing interest in the Arctic region. The Arctic as a storehouse of significant hydrocarbon reserves, as well as the location of convenient transcontinental sea and air routes began to attract the attention of the developed countries of the world. Today, the extraction of minerals in some areas of the Arctic is becoming more and more profitable, and therefore the number of people wishing to actively develop the Arctic region is growing.
In this regard, the Arctic Council was established in September 1996 to develop the cooperation of the Arctic states, coordinate their actions in the interests of ensuring sustainable development of the region, protect the environment, preserve the culture, traditions and languages of the indigenous peoples of the North. Members of the Council are the eight Arctic states: Denmark, Iceland, Canada, Norway, Russia, the United States, Finland and Sweden. The Council is the main discussion platform for international cooperation in the region.
Now, under the auspices of the Arctic Council, projects are being implemented in such areas as ecology, economy, culture, health, prevention of emergencies, protection of the interests of indigenous peoples of the North. They are financed by the Arctic states, national and international banks, as well as private foundations.
The Arctic Council also pays attention to programs on economic, cultural and social support for the peoples of the Arctic region.
In May 2017, the 10th Ministerial meeting of the Arctic Council was held in Fairbanks, Alaska, at which the final document entitled "Declaration of Fairbanks" was accepted. The Declaration underscores the desire of the Arctic countries to preserve peace, stability and constructive interaction in the Arctic. The signed agreement obliges the Council members to closely monitor the ecology and climate change, to continue to solve the social and economic problems of the small northern peoples.
However, even though the issues of military security are not within the competence of the Arctic Council, special attention was paid to security issues in the region, which was also reflected in the final declaration. This issue was raised regarding the fact that NATO is strengthening its military presence in the Arctic contrary to the humanitarian initiatives of the Arctic Council.
It is known that NATO's Arctic strategy exists since January 2009, and it gave the start to active militarization of the Arctic, which provokes an increase in tensions in the region. It should be noted that five of the seven Western members of the Arctic Council are members of NATO - the United States, Canada, Iceland, Denmark and Norway. Finland and Sweden are not members of NATO, but they increase the level of cooperation with the alliance.
The NATO leadership decided to increase its presence in the Arctic and build the necessary infrastructure for these purposes. It is planned to create military units for responding to emergencies in the Arctic zone.
The definition of the Arctic as a strategically important region for NATO countries has led to the expansion of the Alliance's borders beyond the North Atlantic region. Regular military exercises are taking place, in which military personnel of the Air Force, Navy, Army and Special Forces of the member of the Alliance participate.
The military activity of the alliance in the region may have serious consequences for international cooperation in the Arctic. This was underscored at the board meeting in Fairbanks, since in the Arctic there are no such problems that require the participation of NATO armed forces, and the military strategy of the alliance actually expels from the Arctic region various international organizations such as the Arctic Council and the Barents Euro-Arctic Council from the Arctic region.
Continuing expansion of NATO's influence on the security processes in the Arctic region will lead to the militarization of the Arctic and, undoubtedly, to increased tensions in the region. It should be noted that the negotiations held within the framework of the work of the Council do not guarantee the preservation of security in the Arctic.
In this regard, the Arctic Council was established in September 1996 to develop the cooperation of the Arctic states, coordinate their actions in the interests of ensuring sustainable development of the region, protect the environment, preserve the culture, traditions and languages of the indigenous peoples of the North. Members of the Council are the eight Arctic states: Denmark, Iceland, Canada, Norway, Russia, the United States, Finland and Sweden. The Council is the main discussion platform for international cooperation in the region.
Now, under the auspices of the Arctic Council, projects are being implemented in such areas as ecology, economy, culture, health, prevention of emergencies, protection of the interests of indigenous peoples of the North. They are financed by the Arctic states, national and international banks, as well as private foundations.
The Arctic Council also pays attention to programs on economic, cultural and social support for the peoples of the Arctic region.
In May 2017, the 10th Ministerial meeting of the Arctic Council was held in Fairbanks, Alaska, at which the final document entitled "Declaration of Fairbanks" was accepted. The Declaration underscores the desire of the Arctic countries to preserve peace, stability and constructive interaction in the Arctic. The signed agreement obliges the Council members to closely monitor the ecology and climate change, to continue to solve the social and economic problems of the small northern peoples.
However, even though the issues of military security are not within the competence of the Arctic Council, special attention was paid to security issues in the region, which was also reflected in the final declaration. This issue was raised regarding the fact that NATO is strengthening its military presence in the Arctic contrary to the humanitarian initiatives of the Arctic Council.
It is known that NATO's Arctic strategy exists since January 2009, and it gave the start to active militarization of the Arctic, which provokes an increase in tensions in the region. It should be noted that five of the seven Western members of the Arctic Council are members of NATO - the United States, Canada, Iceland, Denmark and Norway. Finland and Sweden are not members of NATO, but they increase the level of cooperation with the alliance.
The NATO leadership decided to increase its presence in the Arctic and build the necessary infrastructure for these purposes. It is planned to create military units for responding to emergencies in the Arctic zone.
The definition of the Arctic as a strategically important region for NATO countries has led to the expansion of the Alliance's borders beyond the North Atlantic region. Regular military exercises are taking place, in which military personnel of the Air Force, Navy, Army and Special Forces of the member of the Alliance participate.
The military activity of the alliance in the region may have serious consequences for international cooperation in the Arctic. This was underscored at the board meeting in Fairbanks, since in the Arctic there are no such problems that require the participation of NATO armed forces, and the military strategy of the alliance actually expels from the Arctic region various international organizations such as the Arctic Council and the Barents Euro-Arctic Council from the Arctic region.
Continuing expansion of NATO's influence on the security processes in the Arctic region will lead to the militarization of the Arctic and, undoubtedly, to increased tensions in the region. It should be noted that the negotiations held within the framework of the work of the Council do not guarantee the preservation of security in the Arctic.