Russia is fast becoming a dominant Military power in the Arctic

[Raphael]

http://myidst.com/index.php/en/thre...oming-a-dominant-military-power-in-the-arctic

As the Global warming is melting the Arctic ice, and opening up new shipping trade routes and real estate, intense resource competition over an estimated $1 trillion in hydrocarbons has started. This is leading to bitter disputes among countries sharing territory in the polar region, or members of the Arctic council, namely US, Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Russia and Canada. Putin and the Russian Federation are laying disputed claims to territories both inside and outside the Arctic. Canada is preparing to include the North Pole as part of its Arctic Ocean seabed claim.

Putin is actively pursuing a strong approach to the Arctic region, he has named Arctic among the government's top priorities. The declining revenues of the oil fields, are forcing Russian oil companies to actively explore the Arctic region. Russia will create forces in the Arctic to ensure military security and protect the country's national interests in the region.

Russia does not pose security risk to Sweden, according to its Premier Fredrik Reinfeldt. Over the years its military has been weakened by consistent lower defense spending and decisions like downsizing its Air Force, from 20 squadrons and 400 aircraft to four divisions with fewer than 140 front-line fighters.

Canada has a small Arctic military presence, with a training centre opened last year that only holds 150 soldiers. The Canadian Forces are planning to develop a network of sites throughout the Arctic in order to stockpile equipment if needed and move troops and gear quickly into the region in case of emergency. Recently, Canada's National Defence tested remotely piloted vehicles in the extreme conditions of the High Arctic.

US President Barack Obama in May unveiled a strategy for the Arctic, asserting that nations must protect the region's fragile environment and keep it free from conflict. The plan also made it clear the US does not want to be left behind as the other countries eye natural resources and exploit potential new sea routes. Department of Defense Arctic Strategy, identifyied two supporting objectives to the National Strategy: Ensure security, support safety, and promote defense cooperation, and Prepare for a wide range of challenges and contingencies.

US has a military base in Greenland and a large submarine fleet. US Navy recently released 2014 update Navy Arctic Roadmap according to which the Navy will take deliberate steps to anticipate and prepare for Arctic Region operations in the near-term (2014-2020), mid-term (2020-2030), and far-term (beyond 2030). The US Navy plans to transition its Arctic Ocean operations from a capability to provide a periodic presence to a capability to operate deliberately for sustained periods only in the middle and long term.

Hillary Clinton, former Secretary of State, has called for a united Canadian-U.S. counterbalance to Russia's Arctic presence, pointing out "they have been aggressively reopening military bases."

Russia is acting quickly to dominate Geostrategic and Military power in the Arctic. It has announced that it was resuming its permanent Arctic military presence, creating a new military command titled Northern Fleet – Joint Strategic Command, tasked to protect Russian interests in its Arctic territories. It is stepping up its military presence by creating naval bases that would be home to ships and submarines. Russia will have full radar coverage of the Arctic region this year. Russia is also attempting to accelerate the construction of more icebreakers to take part in its Arctic strategy.It has launched restoration of airfields recently at the Novosibirsk Islands and on Franz Josef Land.

Norway has made High North a top defense priority and modernizing its High North defense capabilities, according to Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg. Norway has also urged NATO to work more closely with the country's military to improve the alliance's level of knowledge and situational awareness in the High North.

However, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said "At this present time, NATO has no intention of raising its presence and activities in the High North". He further said that tensions in the region, and the potential for disputes over the sovereign rights to the region's estimated vast oil and natural gas resources, could be best handled through dialogue. "The Arctic is a harsh environment. It rewards cooperation, not confrontation," Rasmussen said. "I trust we'll continue to see cooperation."



------------------------------------------

If Russia captures the Arctic, let's hope it starts drilling for oil immediately and at full capacity. Then, maybe they could sell it to us with a small "friend's discount".

 

[Hindustani78]

Russia’s NATO envoy says Arctic should be zone ‘free of military activity’
The Arctic should remain a zone with a minimum of military activity, RIA Novosti quoted Russia’s permanent representative to NATO as saying on Friday. There are no direct military risks today in the region, according to Aleksandr Grushko. Speaking in Brussels, he said that “Cold War” rhetoric should be put aside. “We are carefully watching how NATO is turning its focus to the Arctic region,” he said, adding that “the less influence from military and political organizations in that region, the better it will be for solving tasks set before the Arctic states.”

 

[Hindustani78]

TASS: Russia - Upgraded MiG-31 interceptors to cover Russia's Arctic, other strategic directions — source

Upgraded MiG-31 interceptors to cover Russia's Arctic, other strategic directions — source
Russia
December 30, 16:20 UTC+3
Russian President Vladimir Putin sees control of the Arctic as a matter of serious strategic concern for Moscow

MOSCOW, December 30. /TASS/. Fifty upgraded Mikoyan MiG-31BM supersonic interceptor aircraft will cover the most important strategic directions, including the Arctic, a Russian defense industry source told TASS on Tuesday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin sees control of the Arctic as a matter of serious strategic concern for Moscow.

According to the contract terms, more than 50 fighters modernized to the level of MiG-31BM will be delivered to the troops by the end of 2018.

“After repair with in-depth modernization to the MiG-31BM level the aircraft will be put on combat duty to cover the critically important strategic directions, including the Arctic,” he said.

The MiG-31 (NATO reporting name Foxhound) is the fastest fighter-interceptor in service anywhere in the world. The upgraded MiG-31BM has a range of 1450 km on internal fuel, which can be extended to 5400 km with air-to-air refuelling.

The warplanes will get upgraded avionics, improved cockpit ergonomic design, new radars. The fighters’ armament control systems will be modernised for the use of new bombs and new air-to-air missiles, as well as antiradar missiles.

“The combat jets are also to be equipped with digital data communication channels,” the source added. He said the new equipment considerably simplifies the algorithm of transfer of orders for weapons use and also allows the warplanes to exchange information with ground-based, aerial and space objects.

The interceptors will be modernized by the Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG, the Nizhny Novgorod-based Sokol Aviation Plant and the Petersburg-based Zaslon Science and Technology Center.

The first contract on the MiG-31 jet modernization under which more than 50 upgraded MiG-31BM combat jets will be delivered to the Russian Air Force by 2019, was signed by Sokol in 2011. This year, 18 such warplanes have been delivered to the troops.

 

[opruh]

Russia and China will soon rule the Arctic, no room for the US and its puppet Britain.

 

[vostok]

Previously, it was clear in the Arctic - each state held its sector. This excluded claims and conflicts.

 

[Hindustani78]

1) North Pole: Russia leaves its flag on the seabed, 4,000m (13,100ft) beneath the surface, as part of its claims for oil and gas reserves
2) Lomonosov Ridge: Russia argues that this underwater feature is an extension of its continental territory and is looking for evidence
3) 200-nautical mile (370km) line: Shows how far countries' agreed economic area extends beyond their coastline. Often set from outlying islands
4) Russian-claimed territory: The bid to claim a vast area is being closely watched by other countries. Some could follow suit

 

[Hindustani78]

TASS: Russia - Two ships for laying communication lines to Arctic region to be built in Tatarstan

January 06, 3:07 UTC+3
Such ships will be built in Russia for the first time on the initiative of the Russian Defence Ministry
KAZAN, January 6. /TASS/. Two ships of Project 15310, due to be used to lay and repair cable lines of communication in the Arctic region, will be laid down at the Zelenodolsk Shipbuilding Plant named after A.Gorky (Zelenodolsk Shipyard, based in the Republic of Tatarstan), the plant’s representative, Olga Makarova, told TASS on Tuesday.

“Such ships will be built in Russia for the first time on the initiative of the Russian Defence Ministry. Deputy Defence Minister Yuri Borisov will take part in the ceremony,” she said.

The plant specialises in the construction of warships and passenger high-speed vessels. In 2015 it will mark the 120th anniversary. Over 1,500 ships and river craft, and vessels of different classes and purposes have been built at the plant. The construction of passenger high-speed vessels of A145 project, RST25 project oil tankers, fast attack craft of 21631 project and Gepard 3.9 type frigates are among the significant projects of the plant.

 

[Superboy]

3) 200-nautical mile (370km) line: Shows how far countries' agreed economic area extends beyond their coastline. Often set from outlying islands

The US never signed the UN Law of the Sea and therefore cannot legally claim any offshore water. Therefore, the US's area is only 9.3 million square kilometers.

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[greatone]

OSLO: India is marking its presence in the ongoing Great Arctic Rush with President Pranab Mukherjee becoming the first Indian head of state to visit Norway, as also being all set to cross the famed Arctic Circle when he visits Rovaniemi in Finland on Thursday.

After Mukherjee received a ceremonial reception at the Royal Palace in Oslo on Monday morning, he held talks with King Harald V and the top Norwegian political leadership. The President will oversee the inking of a dozen bilateral agreements on Tuesday to reaffirm India's long-standing "friendly ties" with Nordic countries.

India has gained a strategic toehold in the Arctic region, which is fast emerging as the new arena for geopolitical jostling, after getting permanent observer status in May 2013 in the Arctic Council. The council has US, Canada, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Russia and Finland as its member states. "India's interests in the Arctic region are scientific, environmental, commercial as well as strategic," said an official.

President Pranab Mukherjee inspects a guard of honour with King Harald V during his ceremonial reception at the royal palace in Oslo, on October 13, 2014. (PTI photo)

While there is widespread environmental concern over global warming leading to the melting of the thick ice fields in the Arctic, India also does not want to be left out in the cold in the ongoing race among different countries to explore and exploit the vast reservoirs of oil and gas present in the region.



Moreover, new deep sea shipping routes are also opening up by the melting of the polar ice caps in the Arctic waters, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans to bypass traditional routes through the Suez and Panama Canals. India could, for instance, join hands with a member state like Russia for both navigation and exploration of hydrocarbons, even though its present policy is largely geared towards scientific research.

President Pranab Mukherjee waves at the crowd that gathered during his ceremonial reception at the royal palace in Oslo, on October 13, 2014. (PTI photo)

"Without ruling out anything, I would like to underline that our focus at the moment is scientific and technological and earth sciences-oriented ... I certainly would not foreclose any possibilities in regard to whatever benefits the Arctic might offer to the world. At the same time, we really do not believe in entering organizations or situations like this with an avowed objective of exploiting resources," said secretary (west) in the external affairs ministry, Navtej Sarna.

It was in 2007 that India launched its first scientific expedition to the Arctic Ocean and then a year later set up the Himadri research station at Ny-Alesund, Svalbard in Norway. From the Fram Museum in Oslo on Monday, Mukherjee spoke through a video link to Indian scientists at Himadri.

The Arctic is different from Antarctica that the southern polar region has for long been "a global commons" with a treaty in place to preserve its ecologically-pristine environs. The Arctic member states, however, claim territorial jurisdiction and sovereign rights over the northern polar region.

India seeks edge in Arctic race with President Pranab Mukherjee’s Norway trip - The Times of India

 

[Hindustani78]

Finland deals with Russian Federation with the drilling equipment and ice breakers etc may be raised some serious questions within EU and NATO.

India is being welcomed in Arctic Council because of the growing Indian status regionally and internationally. India is having manpower, technology and even resources.

 

[Superboy]

Finland deals with Russian Federation with the drilling equipment and ice breakers etc may be raised some serious questions within EU and NATO.

India is being welcomed in Arctic Council because of the growing Indian status regionally and internationally. India is having manpower, technology and even resources.

Finland is not a NATO country. NATO has no authority over Finland.

 

[Sasquatch]

Russia claims half the Arctic, nice. China will benefit from the Oil & Gas found.

 

[Hindustani78]

Russia is interested in the Arctic for a number of reasons, though natural resources and pure geopolitical imperatives are the major driving forces behind Moscow's thinking. The Arctic contains an estimated 30 percent of the world's undiscovered natural gas and 13 percent of its undiscovered oil reserves, regarded by Moscow as important sources of foreign investment that are critical to the country's economic development. The Northern Sea Route from East Asia to Europe via the Arctic Ocean provides another economic opportunity for developing infrastructure in northern Russia.

Militarizing the Arctic will be a key imperative for the Russian military throughout 2015 and beyond — alongside modernization in general and bolstering forces in Crimea and the Kaliningrad exclave. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, Soviet-era bases in the Arctic are being reactivated in response to NATO's renewed interest in the region.

The airstrip on the archipelago of Novaya Zemlya is being renovated to accommodate modern and next generation fighter aircraft in addition to advanced S400 air defense systems. Part of the Northern Fleet will also be based on the island chain, which is ideally positioned for operations in the Arctic region. The Northern Fleet represents two-thirds of the entire Russian Navy, which is the only navy in the world to operate nuclear-powered icebreaker ships.

In addition, Moscow announced the formation of a new 6,000-soldier military group in the far north consisting of two motorized infantry brigades located in the Murmansk area and the Yamal-Nenets autonomous region. Radar and ground guidance systems are also planned for Franz Josef Land (part of Novaya Zemlya), Wrangel Island and Cape Schmidt. The Federal Security Service plans to increase the number of border guards on Russia's northern perimeter as well.

The recent Vostok 2014 full-scale military exercise — the biggest since the collapse of the Soviet Union — was a revealing indication of Russia's intentions in the Arctic. Russian troops, sailors and airmen carried out combat training missions in the region, prominently deploying Pantsir-S (air defense) and Iskander-M (theater ballistic missile) weapon systems, among others. Such activities inevitably evoke the atmosphere of the Cold War, when the region was the focus of U.S. and NATO attention. Furthermore, Russia's Northern Fleet announced that its Independent Marine Infantry Brigade will undergo intensive training in the Arctic region throughout 2015.

The Kremlin reiterated its intention to field a formidable combined arms force to protect its political and economic interests in the Arctic by 2020. Going into 2015, it is estimated that the Russian armed forces have around 56 military aircraft and 122 helicopters in the Arctic region.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu stated that 14 military airfields on Russia's Arctic seaboard would be operational by the end of the year. The Ministry of Defense also said some of the 50 modernized MiG-31BM Foxhound interceptors expected by 2019 will be charged with defense duties over the Arctic. Despite the economic problems plaguing Russia, the Ministry of Defense managed to escape the significant budget cuts levied against most other ministries. In fact, the Kremlin has increased defense spending by 20 percent, a clear indication of Russia's priorities for 2015 and a likely indication that Moscow intends to meet its military commitments.


At the end of 2014, Russia established a unified strategic command based around the existing command architecture of the Northern Fleet. The force structure successfully facilitates a military reach across the islands of Russia's northern territories, allowing for better oversight and control of the trade route from China to Norway. This structure also serves the purpose of monitoring — and potentially checking — any military moves by any other power in the region.

Along with the Baltic states and their respective environs, the Barents Sea is under constant surveillance by Russian fighter jets. Russia's dominance in the region was further solidified when, in late December, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a new military doctrine. In stark contrast to previous dictums, the Arctic region was officially put on the list of Russian spheres of influence for the first time. The same recognition applies to Russia's maritime doctrine, which has two major geopolitical imperatives: a thrust toward the Black Sea and dominion of the near Arctic.

Russia appears to be gearing up for any eventuality in the Arctic, but its policy-makers are beginning to debate whether Russian pressure in the Arctic serves as a geopolitical pivot that could alter the regional balance of power. The emergence of a dominant Arctic player will certainly affect trans-Atlantic trade routes and commitments, relations between Russia and the northern European countries and relations between Russia and China.

For half a century, the Arctic was an area of U.S.-Soviet friction and the site of numerous incidents that could easily have led to conflict. Even in a post-Cold War world, the region could once again be transformed into a zone of frozen conflicts. The great powers have long competed over the Arctic, and now countries such as China and India are expressing their own interest in the region.

Although Russia faces a raft of internal and external problems such as a strained economy, matters in Ukraine and pressure from the international community, the Kremlin remains wedded to its pursuit of the Arctic. This has forced Russia's neighbors to reassess their own military presence in places like the Barents Sea, as well as territorial claims to disputed parts of the Arctic Circle.

Norway will press harder for a larger NATO presence in the northern region, but while military conflict remains a threat, Russia will stop short of instigating hostilities. The Kremlin knows that when it comes to acquisitions, actions speak louder than words, and any attempt to grab the rich, unclaimed territory of the Arctic Circle will have to be backed by force.

 

[Schutz]

If any other country acts like Russia its called warmongering.

 

[papertiger]

I doubt this land will be of any importance in practice, mining there would cause too much damage to the local environment and the world's ecosystem.