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#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.
#14969421
Due to the fact that currently NATO countries led by the United States are strengthening their positions in the Arctic, Russia has taken a number of measures to ensure the protection of its own interests in the region. In particular, the military presence is increasing, military exercises are being held, the serious development of the Northern Sea Route as the most important logistic artery in the region begins, and, of course, the naval component is being strengthened. The domestic military-industrial complex has innovative solutions that allow military equipment and infrastructure to function smoothly in the harsh conditions of the north. And prospective military equipment and weapons are constantly being tested in the extreme conditions of the Arctic.
In 2014, the Defense Ministry of the Russian Federation formed the joint strategic command "North" with headquarters in Severomorsk. As part of the joint strategic command of the Northern Fleet, an army of air force and air defense was formed, as well as an army corps and an arctic motorized rifle brigade prepared to perform combat missions in harsh climatic conditions.
The Northern Fleet includes: 41 submarines and 38 ships, including the heavy aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, as well as 8 submarines with ballistic missiles. In 2018, the icebreaker Ilya Muromets, the logistics support vessel Elbrus, and the large landing ship Ivan Gren were added to the Arctic forces.
The structure of the Northern Fleet in 2018 included the frigate Admiral Gorshkov, which was the first ship with cruise missiles Caliber. This frigate is designed to conduct combat operations in the near and far sea and ocean zones. The basis of its striking power is a universal ship shooting complex, which allows strikes against ground targets with long-range cruise missiles.
In the coming years, the Northern Fleet will be replenished with three nuclear missile carriers, Prince Vladimir, Prince Oleg and Prince Pozharsky, and three nuclear-powered project 885 Yasen, Kazan, Arkhangelsk and Ulyanovsk, as well as two frigates of Project 22350 - "Admiral Kasatonov" and "Admiral Golovko".
In 2018, 15 aircrafts and helicopters, 62 radar and anti-aircraft missile systems arrived in the Arctic.
The coastal missile systems "Ball" and "Bastion" appeared in service - to control territorial waters and torrential zones, protect naval bases, coastal facilities and infrastructure of the coast.
The air defense of the Russian Federation in the region is getting stronger. In 2018, a new air defense division was formed, units of which were deployed on the Novaya Zemlya archipelago, in the villages of Dikson and Tiksi. Here deployed radar, providing control of the air situation. Arctic air defense units receive the S-400 Triumph air defense missile system and the upgraded Pantsir-S1.
The complete rearmament of the coastal troops of the Russian Navy is planned to be completed by 2021. Today the share of modern weapons in military units of the Arctic region is about 60%.
Thus, Russia seeks to implement all the planned measures for the return of the army to the Arctic region, since this will allow it to provide its northern frontiers with reliable protection from land, air and water.
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By Tintin Storm
#14973976
Nowadays, there is a growing awareness that in the foreseeable future, the Arctic will become the main resource base of humanity. According to the latest geological survey data, the northernmost corner of the Earth is rich in everything that any country can dream of: oil, gas, precious and non-ferrous metals. In our eyes, the struggle for control over these natural resources is unfolding in the Arctic Ocean.
After the abolition of the sectoral principle of dividing the Arctic territory, each state clearly defined its sea borders in the North - 12 miles. Another 200 miles each country was "presented" as an "exclusive economic zone." That is, a given state can develop natural resources within the boundaries of this area and earn them. Everything else has become a "common use area".
However, the Convention on the Law of the Sea, adopted in 1982, still laid relief for the Arctic countries - they can expand the boundaries of their marine areas, if they prove that the Arctic Ocean shelf is an extension of the continental platform on which these countries are located.
From this point on, all applicants for this territory began to study the seabed. The northern states began to look for signs of kinship of their continent with the strata of rocks in the Arctic Ocean.
Russia, on the basis of international law, claims a seabed area outside the 200-mile zone in the entire Russian polar sector with the inclusion of the North Pole zone and the southern extremity of the Gakkel Ridge. This is the area of the extended continental shelf in the Arctic Ocean, which is 1.2 million km2.
In December 2001, Russia, the first of the Arctic countries, submitted to the UN Commission the first application for expanding its Arctic shelf. The rationale cited data indicating that the Mendeleev and Lomonosov ridges, located on the deep ocean, are a continuation of the Siberian continental platform. In 2002, the commission concluded that the information provided was not enough to classify the areas indicated in the application as the Russian continental shelf.
In this regard, extensive data refinement work has been carried out. Altogether, seven expeditions were carried out on the scientific ship Akademik Fedorov, as a result of which sea bottom measurements and seismic surveys were carried out, bottom sediment samples were collected from a depth of several kilometers. In particular, in August 2007, a unique scientific experiment was conducted in the North Pole area. For the first time in the history of scientific exploration of the Arctic, Russian oceanologists and polar explorers with the help of deep-sea apparatuses "Mir" have sunk to the bottom of the Arctic Ocean to a depth of over four thousand meters.
Scientists took samples of soil and water, took photographs and filming, and also installed a Russian titanium alloy tricolor on the ocean floor. Having studied the basalts and dolerites extracted from the bottom of the northern and southern parts of the underwater range, the scientists found that they have the same nature as the ancient base of the Novosibirsk Islands, which is an integral part of the continental shelf. The last expedition was completed in the framework of the preparation of the second application in October 2014. For the first time, scientific work was carried out in the area of the Podvodnikov and Amundsen basins - beyond 200 miles.
Thus, according to scientists, the Russian application for expanding the boundaries of the continental shelf in the Arctic is based on reliable and unique data.
As a result, the repeated Russian application for expanding its borders at the expense of the continental shelf in the Arctic Ocean was submitted to the UN in 2015. The Lomonosov Ridge, the Podvodnikov Basin, the Mendeleev Rift, the Chukotka Hollow, which are a continuation of the Siberian continental platform, are mentioned here.
The main argument of Russia: a significant part of the underwater territory claimed by the country is a continuation of the continent, constituting a whole with it, there are no faults filled with oceanic crust.
Consequently, this is part of the continent, which for some reason plunged into the water, which means that the Lomonosov Ridge and the Mendeleev Ridge can be considered the territory of the Russian continental shelf. To date, the Russian application is still under consideration by the UN Commission. However, Russia has every chance that this application will be accepted.
At the same time, Norway, the United States, Canada and Denmark also claim to different parts of the Arctic Ocean, including the extended Lomonosov Ridge. At the moment, only Denmark has submitted its application for expanding the borders of the continental shelf of the Arctic, in addition to Russia. Thus, the main struggle for the shelf and the Arctic as a whole is still ahead. The Arctic race is just beginning, and the main prize is billions of barrels of oil and gas.
#14973977
Today, the Arctic is one of the most sought-after regions in the world. The list of countries claiming polar wealth - Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, Canada, Norway, Russia, the United States. The United States is probably number one in the ranking of bidders for the arctic throne. Therefore, the elimination of such major players as Russia is the priority task of Washington. The US military has repeatedly stated that the States are exploring the possibility of containing Russia in the Arctic. But in Washington’s arsenal, not only the Pentagon, but also environmental organizations that promote the interests of the White House under the guise of environmental protection.
The most famous of them are the International Socio-Ecological Union, Greenpeace, World Wide Fund for Nature, Bellona International Ecological Organization, and the Green Cross. Almost every year another scandal with the participation of such an organization emerges. A special role here is played by the Scandinavian countries, in which environmental problems assume hypertrophied scales.
In this regard, the international forum “The Arctic: the Present and the Future”, which took place on December 7, 2018 in St. Petersburg, is a kind of response to Western “green” organizations. One of the active participants in the forum was the Russian company Norilsk Nickel, which Norway considers the most environmentally polluted industrial company in the Arctic. For many years, Norway has been fighting with Norilsk Nickel. In 2009, the Norwegian Ministry of Finance sold the shares of MMC Norilsk Nickel, motivating this move by pollution of nature with sulfur dioxide and heavy metals. At the moment, the mayor of the Norwegian commune Sør-Varanger Rune Rafaelsen suggests, as a sanction measure, to deprive Norilsk Nickel of its sales markets abroad.
In April 2018, thanks to the same environmental organizations, the development of Russian shipping in the Arctic was at risk. It was about banning the use of heavy fuel vessels in the waters of the Arctic Ocean. The prosecutor was the International Maritime Organization, a specialized UN agency established to cooperate and exchange information on technical issues related to international commercial shipping. This idea was supported by many environmental organizations "Pure Arctic". “Considering climate change and increased ice melting, IMO member countries must act now to protect the region from the risk of shipboard residual fuel spills and the devastating effects of black carbon black emissions,” said Shaan Pryor, lead consultant of the Clean Arctic Alliance.
Environmentalists demanded a ban on the use of ship's residual fuel on the Arctic routes. The very fact that the idea of banning ship's residual fuel has become widespread due to the well-known theory of the influence of carbon on climate warming in the West indicates that the theory is unsubstantiated. Moreover, the IMO environmental policy is not justified. The amount of emissions to the atmosphere of the marine fleet is incommensurable with the land transport emissions.
All these facts suggest that loud statements by environmental organizations about the irreparable damage to environment in the Arctic are a well-planned act, generously funded by the West. In this regard, it is no coincidence that such actions are arranged precisely in the field of oil and gas and nuclear power industry, the operation and construction of large industrial facilities. These are the areas that are of interest to Western organizations in terms of competitiveness. Shutting down production or an empty niche created by the hands of “green” organizations in a certain area will create a great advantage for competitive countries.
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By Tintin Storm
#14975468
The US Coast Guard refused to conduct previously scheduled military exercises in the Arctic. This is due to the fact that the only nuclear-powered icebreaker Polar Star was built in the 70s and may simply fail.
The US National Security Council planned to send the icebreaker to the exercises. However, there are no guarantees that there will be no “catastrophic consequences”. In this regard, the American military leadership fears that in the case of serious breakdowns, the US will have to seek help from Russia, which is considered unacceptable in the light of the current relations between the two countries. The US has another icebreaker Healy, but it can perform only a scientific function, and cannot be used in heavy ice.
The absence of icebreakers has a strong effect on the development by the United States of this extremely important region. Previously, the States planned to build a new icebreaker for an army worth $ 750 million, but this item was excluded from the document at the initiative of some lawmakers after US President Donald Trump demanded five billion dollars to be allocated to build a wall on the border with Mexico. Consequently, in the coming years, a new American icebreaker will not appear in the Arctic.
Thus, the United States is experiencing problems in the Arctic, and precedents for saving the Americans in the Arctic were in 2015, when Russian helicopter pilots who made a planned overflight of one of the areas discovered the frozen American submarine SeaWolf. The fact that the American submariners were in trouble, testified traces of the use of signal smoke bombs. The Russians landed nearby and sawed ice around the cabin with chainsaws, freeing the crew from captivity, who could not get to the surface on their own.
This story had a wide resonance in the United States, where it was noted that the American submariners were not well prepared for war with the Russians in the Arctic. In addition, the incident of 2011 surfaced, when during the Arctic Ice Exercise, the submarine Connecticut was stuck in the ice. Then the Americans coped on their own and were able to get out of the ice captivity.
The last incident occurred in March 2018, when Hartford nuclear submarine, which participated in the Ice Exercise-2018, was stuck in the ice. According to the plan of the exercises, the submarine, having completed a series of maneuvers, was to emerge and launch the Tomahawk cruise missiles. But something went wrong and on March 10, the submarine was firmly frozen into the ice, without completing the combat training task. The Russians were ready to help, but the American submariners caused their helicopter to rescue the boat from the ice captivity.
So, the current concerns of the US Coast Guard, which has long been eyeing the Arctic Ocean and the Northern Sea Route, about conducting exercises are not in vain. And sending the Polar Star to the Arctic alone would be a very risky business.
Thus, despite the great desire, American attack aircraft carriers with squadrons of escort ships without the support of an icebreaking fleet simply will not enter the Arctic Ocean, especially during the winter navigation period. Therefore, three years ago, the United States Senate Committee on Armed Forces Affairs noted the fact that America lags significantly behind other countries, primarily Russia, in the number of icebreakers.
Russia, on the contrary, holds all the planned activities in the Arctic region. Thus, during the Vostok-2018 military exercises, which took place in September 2018, the Northern Fleet Forces successfully conducted maneuvers in the Chukotka region in the Bering Sea.
In addition, it is known that during the Center-2019 exercises, planned for August-September 2019, some of the important stages will take place in the Arctic - from the New Earth to the Novosibirsk Islands.
Thus, the US military leadership stresses that even though the United States has developed an action plan in the Arctic, they are seriously lagging behind Russia, which has been concentrating on activities in the region for a long time. However, the loss of the US Arctic is not threatened. They understand that they need to speed up efforts, increase investment in the same nuclear-powered icebreakers and approach more flexibly the issue of creating various alliances in the development of the Arctic.
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By Tintin Storm
#14988242
The Northern Sea Route, also known as the Northern Passage, runs through the four seas (Kara Sea, Laptev Sea, East Siberian Sea, Chukchi Sea) and is the shortest route from Northern Europe and Siberia to Asia. In shipping, the Northern Sea Route is defined as “the navigational-recommended route from Novaya Zemlya to the Bering Strait”, and the Legislation of the Russian Federation - as “the historically established national unified transport communication of Russia in the Arctic”. The Northern Sea Route makes it possible to significantly shorten the delivery of goods from Europe to the Asia-Pacific region compared with the southern routes running through the Suez and Panama Canals.
After the collapse of the USSR, the military power of which allowed to solely controlling the Northern Sea Route (NSR), the main “battles” around the status of the Arctic and issues of navigation along the northern sea route are still unfolding in the legal sphere. The legal position of the Russian Federation provides a “broad” definition of the boundaries of the NSR water area, explaining that this path does not have a single and fixed route. Keeping its general direction, the NSR moves from year to year, and often during the one navigation, goes long distances in the latitudinal direction. Nevertheless, in any circumstances, the most part of this path passes through the exceptional economic zone of Russia, its territorial sea, or even in Russian internal waters, i.e., passes in spaces that falling under the sovereignty or jurisdiction of the Russian Federation. In the scientific literature there are three groups of arguments that determine the legitimacy of such actions of Russia. The first one substantiates the recognition of the NSR by its national communication in the Arctic from a historical point of view, the second draws attention to the presence of special legal rights and duties in this region of the Arctic states, the third bases on the impossibility of dividing the NSR into any particular areas and take into consideration its unity as a federal transport artery.
However, the "monopoly" position of Moscow in the waters circumambient the northern coast of Eurasia, was contested in Washington. The US insists that this transport artery should be international. In the United States, they fundamentally disagree that such an important route is in the sphere of Russia's jurisdiction. The commander of the US Coast Guard, Admiral Paul Tsukunft said about it last year in April. Moreover, he noted that the US armed forces do not plan to conduct maneuvers in the Arctic "to ensure the freedom of navigation." It should be recalled that the Pentagon resorted to similar operations in the South China Sea in order to limit China's activity on the "privatization" of an important sea route. However, Russia does not interfere at all with the freedom of navigation in this area, and the NSR can be used just like any other maritime artery, observing certain rules.
In addition, Chine is interested in the Northern Sea Route too - Beijing is considering this route as an addition to the Silk Road project. Last year in January, Beijing officially announced plans to actively use the possibilities of the NSR. The main partner of China in this business, of course, will be Russia, which is actively developing the Northern Sea Route. Most likely, the success of the Northern Sea Route inspired Beijing to create the “Polar Silk Road”. Last year in December, the Russian president Vladimir Putin himself proposed to China to make the Northern Sea Route "a silk way" together.
China, of course, pursues its own interests and is trying to save on transportation, so the volume of transportation of Chinese along the NSR is growing. Some of people even see the threat in such an expansion. Theoretically, conflicts are possible with significant melting of ice, as well as the growth of China’s military ambitions. The use of the Northern Sea Route by Chinese warships may entail the intensification of the actions of other foreign states to ensure their naval presence in the Arctic.
Thus, for example, Russia and the United States have been arguing about the legal status of the Northern Sea Route for a long time, and this has had an impact on bilateral relations in the Arctic since the 1960s. The United States is trying to dispute these arguments and consider some straits - the Straits of the Kara Sea and the Straits of Laptev and Sannikov - to be international, to which applies the principle of freedom of navigation. Also, another argument for expanding Russia's sovereignty over the waters of the Northern Sea Route is that there are very harsh climatic and ice conditions on this route. Russia argues that the duty of coastal states is to ensure the safety of navigation and prevent possible environmental threats due to various kinds of incidents at sea: oil spills, ship collisions, etc. To shipping manage and to provide ships with hydrographic, ice-breaking and other support, the coastal state should get all the necessary information about the passing ships. If the passing ships do not fulfill the existing requirements, which pose a threat to the safety of navigation, Russia may not allow these ships to pass through the NSR.
#14993803
Today in the world there is a surge of interest in the Arctic. The main reason is the willingness of many countries to invest in the development of the rich natural resources of the macro region. Moreover, the Arctic is one of the few places on the planet that still have a national appropriation, because initially the resources of the Polar region were not divided between the countries. At least five states apply for the Arctic zones: Russia, Norway, Denmark, Canada and the United States. All these countries have access to the coast of the Arctic Ocean. In the future, national claims may be supported by various arguments, but it is clear that the main one is practical, that is, the real readiness of the country to actively develop the north.
And since the development of the Arctic for Russia is a very important task, on December 1, 2014, the Combined Strategic Command "North", which is more known as the Arctic grouping of troops, began to perform combat tasks. The decision to restore Russia's military presence in the Arctic was made by Russian President Vladimir Putin, approving in February 2013 the Strategy for the Development of the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation and ensuring National Security until 2020.
According to experts, Russia's strengthening of its position in the north is explained by its neighborhood with NATO member states. But at the same time, they also stated that the restoration of the military presence beyond the Arctic Circle is necessary for Russia to reliably protect the natural wealth of the territory. At the moment, it is not known for certain what reserves of oil and gas the Arctic possesses, which is called the “pantry of the Earth”. According to preliminary estimates by scientists, there is about a quarter of the world's proven hydrocarbon reserves under the ice. At the same time, great importance is given to environmental safety, waste management and cleaning of the Arctic.
Military expert, candidate of historical sciences Vadim Solovyov is confident that, given the increasing international competition for Arctic resources, the creation of the Joint Strategic Command "North" was fully justified. V. Solovyov noted that the area is not simple and it is necessary to develop the Arctic, prepare the appropriate infrastructure, and accumulate a certain military potential and train personnel in very difficult conditions to ensure environmental safety, rescue and scientific work. According to the Minister of Defense of Russia, General of the Army Sergey Shoigu, the protection of Russia's national interests in the Arctic region and its active development remain priorities of the activities of the armed forces.
It should be noted that the environmental problems of the Arctic are not a secret to anyone. Since Soviet times, a huge amount of rusty empty barrels, iron and an insane amount of other garbage have remained. The Russian army, which is now returning its infrastructure, began to take out the garbage. "Cleaning" the Arctic is a long and serious work, but it already gives a positive environmental effect.
Viktor Boyarsky, Chairman of the Polar Commission of the Russian Geographical Society, noted that the program of cleaning the Arctic Archipelago started back in 2012. He summarized that the military presence is a natural stimulus for the development of the region. And it meant not only improving the environment, but also developing the entire infrastructure of the Northern Sea Route, and all this activity is not building up power, but simply returning to a normal state of affairs.
Furthermore, on December 24, 2018 at a meeting of the Public Council at the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, S. Shoigu said that by 2019 the Russian Defense Ministry would complete the cleaning of the Arctic islands of scrap metal, and the Russian government stressed that this work is considered essential and necessary activities.
#14993805
It should be recalled that on October 31, 2017, the US Ministry of Finance announced a ban on American citizens and companies from participating in Russian projects related to oil production in the Arctic and on its shelf and depth. The sanctions came into force on January 29, 2018 and complement those that began to be introduced in 2014 after the joining of the Crimea to Russia and the beginning of the conflict in south-eastern Ukraine. In turn, Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated that no sanctions can affect the principal positions of the Russian Federation in the international arena, and also that the position on Syria, Donbass and Crimea would not change, no matter what sanctions their American partners impose.
It should be noted that according to the review of the Energy Information Agency, which is part of the US federal statistical system, the sanctions pressure on Arctic and shale projects played a paradoxical role in increasing their attractiveness at a certain stage and made mining on the shelf in the Arctic a profitable business. And the Russian government changed the dividend and tax policy in relation to state corporations, became able to balance the budget.
Moreover, in the review there was a provision stating that the development of such complex deposits as in the Arctic, "is impossible without the assistance of Western companies". However, the imposed sanctions did not affect the current level of production. Thus, the CEO of the Center for Political Information of the Russian Federation, Alexei Mukhin, in May 2017, said that Russian companies, including «Rosneft» company, have quite successfully made their way to adapt to these sanctions. Thus, the existing sanctions have stimulated the development of import substitution in the Arctic shipbuilding, and instead of Western companies in these works domestic companies have appeared. Thus, in the construction of nuclear icebreakers of LK-60 type, components supplied by Russian manufacturers are mainly used.
Analysts at the US Department of Energy point out that Russia is actively developing new gas-bearing provinces, as well as cooperating with other manufacturers. At the same time, there is a general trend both in coal and in gas in shift to Asian markets and moving away from traditional European partners. In the case of deliveries of liquefied natural gas, there is a growing interest of Russian companies not only in its export by special ice-class tankers in the Arctic region, but also to the construction of gas liquefaction plants of medium and small sizes both to cover the gas deficit on its own territory and for export to neighboring countries.
In this regard, there are serious questions about the effectiveness of sanctions and, of course, there is a desire, including among Russia's western partners, to simply lift them, because the result is exactly the opposite. The attempt to strangle Russian companies through sanctions has clearly failed. Moreover, it provoked a very serious activity of the Russian authorities in the search for new markets.
It should be added that the sanctions can not only enhance the multiplier effects of Arctic shipbuilding and other industries: metallurgy (materials for the hull, metal products for shipbuilding), instrument engineering, engine building, radio electronics and marine electronics, but also provide Arctic projects for equipping ships of the Arctic fleet with diesel engines and ship diesel generators of a new generation that meet promising international requirements for environmental safety, efficiency and reliability.
Thus, the sanctions mechanism did not stop the development of the regional economy, but launched the solution of tasks that were not given due attention in previous years. At the same time, the mechanisms of state regulation of the Arctic transport system for the next decade remain priorities.
#14997397
To facilitate cooperation, coordination, and collaboration between the Arctic states, indigenous communities, and the rest of the inhabitants of the Arctic, in 1996 the Arctic Council was established. It should be recalled that it consists of 8 participating states (Russia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and the United States) and 12 observer states (Germany, the Netherlands, China, etc.). It should be noteed that the Arctic Council is actively working within the framework of six working groups aimed at eliminating pollution in the Arctic, preserving and protecting its flora, fauna and marine environment, and comprehensively developing and improving the living conditions of Arctic communities.

However, the Arctic is now an object of interest for a number of states, which may be the reason for conflict between countries. Due to global warming, ice in the Arctic Ocean is gradually receding and opening up not only access to oil and gas, but also Arctic transport routes, which, according to experts, can become free for shipping all year round, and these are just two of the most important areas: the Northern sea route and the Northwest Passage, which in turn significantly reduce the time for the supply of goods and energy from Asia to Europe and North America.

Russia declares the lack of capacity for conflict and commitment to the development of the Arctic as a territory of peace, stability and cooperation. And in accordance with the Antarctic Treaty of 1959, the Antarctic can be used only for peaceful purposes, all types of military activities are prohibited, all territorial claims of the states in Antarctica are «frozen», only scientific research is allowed in the region.
However, some countries do not pay attention to this and act only in their own interests, trying to «pull the blanket over themselves» and expand their zone of control in the region. Thus, on February 18, 2019, the head of the British Ministry of Defense G. Williamson announced London’s plans to increase its military presence in the Arctic to counter Russia. As Williamson explained, the United Kingdom has adopted a new ten-year program, under which the British marines will be trained together with their Norwegian colleagues. Also, he announced the appearance in the Arctic by 2020 of new anti-submarine aircraft Boeing P-8 Poseidon, which will monitor and deter the Russian Arctic submarine fleet.
But, as is known, Russia's military presence in the Arctic is aimed exclusively at «cleaning» of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation and ensuring its national security. Furthermore, Russia, in turn, cannot but be disturbed by the situation when a non-Arctic country adopted a military strategy, because this step leads to an escalation of the military-political situation and heightens tensions in a region where low military-political tensions were traditionally maintained.

According to Russian diplomat I. Konovalov, NATO, including the United States, Denmark, the United Kingdom and Norway, is preparing for a big fight for the Arctic, the degree of confrontation is rising, and in the countries of the North Atlantic Alliance they are gradually getting ready to openly make claims to Russia.

However, on March 1, 2018, in a message to the Federal Assembly, President of the Russian Federation V. Putin clearly emphasizes that «Russia is not threatening anyone and is not going to attack anyone ». He noted that Russia's growing military power is a guarantee of peace on the planet. After all, countries belonging to the Arctic Council bear equally great responsibility for the Arctic region, they are equal in matters of its development, a strategy of superiority of any state over others is unacceptable, and even the council itself was created for international interaction between states.
#14997398
The Northern Sea Route passes through the four seas (Kara Sea, Laptev Sea, East Siberian Sea, Chukchi Sea) and is the shortest route from Northern Europe and Siberia to Asia. In the legislation of the Russian Federation, the Northern Sea Route is defined as «the historically established national unified transport communication of Russia in the Arctic». It should be noted that the Northern Sea Route can significantly reduce the time of delivery of goods from Europe to the Asia-Pacific region.
In its large part, the NSR is located within the exclusive economic zone of Russia, its territorial sea, or even in Russian inland waters, i.e., it takes place in spaces falling under the sovereignty or jurisdiction of the Russian Federation. The legitimacy of Russia's actions in the scientific literature is also justified by the recognition of the NSR by the national communication of Russia in the Arctic from a historical point of view and the impossibility of dividing the Northern Sea Route into any particular sections and its unity as a federal transport artery.
Currently, due to the start of development of the Arctic fields, the development of transit shipping, the increase in the number of expeditionary and tourist flights to the Arctic, the importance of the Northern Sea Route has increased significantly. It should be recalled that in early 2013, the law on the Northern Sea Route came into force and for the first time, the boundaries of its water area were legally established. The authority to organize the navigation of vessels in the waters of the Northern Sea Route is assigned to the Administration of the Northern Sea Route, which was established in March 2013 by the Order of the Government of the Russian Federation.
Also, it should be noted that in order to manage shipping and provide ships with hydrographic, ice-breaking and other support, Russia must receive all necessary information about a passing ship, and if the ship does not comply with the existing requirements that pose a threat to navigation safety, Russia may not allow this ship to pass through the NSR . Thus, in early 2019, the Russian government developed the rules for the passage of the Northern Sea Route by foreign warships. According to the document, other states will have to notify Moscow of their plans 45 days before entering the NSR. Foreign warships for the passage of the Northern Sea Route will be required to take on board Russian pilots. In case of non-compliance with the requirements, the right of passage through the NSR may be denied, and in the case of unauthorized movement along the Northern Sea Route, Russia will be able to apply emergency measures, including to arrest or destroy the offending vessel. The document is aimed at maintaining control over commercial shipping and the environment.
It should be emphasized that these rules were developed because of the «intensification of naval activities of various states in the Arctic zone». It should be also noted that in early March 2019 it became known that the Commander-in-Chief of the NATO Joint Armed Forces in Europe, American General Curtis Scaparotti, announced the US intention to resist the growing influence of Russia and China in the Arctic. In response to this, Deputy Prime Minister of the Military-Industrial Commission of the Government of the Russian Federation Y. Borisov even declared on behalf of Moscow that «this territory is the sphere of Russia's interests. We will not lose ours and will not give up».
Moreover, as is known, in 2018, the Russian Federation adopted a state program for the development of the Arctic and the Northern Sea Route until 2025. Russia maintains an icebreaking fleet here and reanimates the coastal infrastructure, and is currently considering issues of laying railways beyond the Arctic Circle in permafrost conditions. Also, Russia will upgrade the majority of airfields in the Arctic zone in the coming years, which will make them all-season and will allow to receive all types of aircraft.
All the facts show that Russia has long-term plans in the Arctic and is strengthening its positions there. In addition, the Russian Federation is ready for any surprises that can create the countries of the North Atlantic alliance.
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American politicians are afraid that the influence of Russia and China in the Arctic threatens the interests of the United States. The new Arctic Coast Guard strategy notes that the United States is seeking to play a «leading role» in the region. However, the US are not able to catch up with Moscow in the development of polar territories, experts are sure.
For the first time in the past six years, the US Coast Guard has published the Arctic strategy, where special attention is paid to Washington’s striving for leadership in the region. As stated in the document: «Two powers almost equal to America — Russia and China — declared the region a national priority and invested funds in appropriate ways in developing the capacity to expand their influence within it. Due to the fact that Russia and China all over the world constantly cast doubt on international order based on rules, there are fears that they will similarly hamper the preservation of peaceful stability in the Arctic».
Also, it is noted that the PRC may hamper the freedom of American navigation in the Arctic. Russia was accused of «applying its power to coerce other countries around the world, thus seeking to expand its own sphere of influence». Moreover, the United States believes that Russia continues to expand its icebreaking fleet, and NATO is trying to keep up with its rivals. To increase its influence in the region, the alliance conducts military exercises in the Arctic region. According to experts, America does not like the fact that Russia in the Arctic is guided by its own national interests.
«The United States understands that it can only frighten Russia. They have neither icebreaking fleet, nor the necessary scientific and research base for work in the Arctic», said G. Dobromelov, director of the Russian Institute for Applied Political Studies.
Furthermore, the Coast Guard itself admits that «at the moment this fleet does not have the necessary capabilities to ensure access to high latitudes». Russia, in turn, opposes the conflict and the arms race in the Polar Regions. However, it is now particularly important to accelerate scientific and innovative development in the Arctic.
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At the end of May 2019, the US National Security Advisor of Donald Trump, John Bolton, making a speech in front of graduates of the US Coast Guard Academy, called on young specialists to «throw down the glove» to growing military influence of Russia in the Arctic, as well as to prevent the «illegal» claims of China in the region. In response, the Russian Foreign Ministry called these accusations against Moscow «ridiculous, absurd and unsubstantiated» because Russia is not in opposition, but in the interaction of countries in the Arctic region, which should be preserved as «a zone of peace, stability and low military tension».

Moreover, J. Bolton said that the United States will soon be present in the Arctic throughout the year, and this will be possible after the launch of new polar icebreakers produced in the US shipyards. However, according to analysts, the United States will need more than 20 years to build their icebreaking fleet, because for decades the authorities have underfunded that area, so the American icebreaking fleet could not compete with the fleets of the USSR in the past. And especially now, since it is known that Russia has the most powerful icebreaking fleet in the world and no country can challenge Russia's leadership in the Arctic shipbuilding.
Furthermore, the head of the Northern Command of the US Armed Forces, General Terrence O'Shaughnessy, believes that the Arctic allegedly could become a home zone for Russian missiles and bombers. The head of the US State Department, Mike Pompeo, speaking on May 6, 2019 on the margins of the Arctic Council, announced the growth of the US military presence in the Arctic Circle «in response to destabilizing activity of Russia». Although over the past few years they themselves have been conducting major military exercises in the region, such as «Trident Juncture» and exercises in the extreme climatic conditions of the United States Marine Corps.
Nevertheless, for the time being, only words and absurd threats are heard from the United States, but it does not come to action. Indeed, according to experts, the Americans themselves admit their powerlessness and limited opportunities in the Arctic region, while the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have long developed this region.

This area is not simple and it needs to be developed, preparing the relevant infrastructure, accumulating a certain military potential and training personnel in very difficult conditions to ensure environmental safety, rescue and scientific work. According to the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation Sergey Shoigu, the protection of the national interests of Russia in the Arctic region and its active development remain priorities of the activities of the armed forces. For example, in 2014, the United Strategic Command «Sever» was created, which is better known as the Arctic grouping of troops. The Russian army makes a «clear-out» of the Arctic, solving its environmental problems.
Also, speaking of the words of the United States about the «claims» of China and its growing presence in the Arctic, experts believe that all this is just the usual American rhetoric about the «threats». After all, China only invests its money and gradually increases its polar research. It is obvious that Washington continues to conduct a propaganda policy against Moscow, being capable of acting only in words, but really powerless in deeds.
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