Arctic contest heats up: Nations vie for control amid thaw
As the climate crisis intensifies, the significance of the Arctic is increasing. Areas that were once inaccessible are now ice-free for longer periods, and claims to northern territories, which until recently were limited to political declarations, are being backed by greater military involvement.
On 17th February, Arctic manoeuvres will begin, during which American and Canadian (Arctic Forge 25), Norwegian (Joint Viking 25), and Finnish (Local Defence Exercise 25) troops, along with representatives from other NATO countries, will jointly practice operations in extreme conditions in the far north.
This series of military exercises is part of a growing military presence in the region. Russia is asserting claims to the Arctic on the international stage, simultaneously declaring it - unilaterally - as its sphere of influence.
This was highlighted by the Arktika-2007 expedition, when the icebreaker Rossiya cleared a path to the North Pole for the research vessel Akademik Fyodorov. From Fyodorov's deck, two Finnish-built submersibles, Mir 1 and Mir 2, were deployed, which after many hours of submergence reached the seabed, located about 4.3 kilometres underwater.
The crews of the submersibles collected samples from the seabed and water, and Mir 1, using a robotic arm, placed the Russian titanium flag on the Lomonosov Ridge, a symbol of Putin's United Russia party and a time capsule.
The significance of the Lomonosov Ridge
Russia's claims are based on the belief that the Lomonosov Ridge, resembling an underwater mountain range, is an extension of the Russian continental shelf - the part of a continent submerged under shallow ocean waters that delineates the jurisdictions of individual states. The ridge runs across the Arctic, stretching under the North Pole almost to Greenland.
If the Lomonosov Ridge is confirmed as an extension of the Russian shelf, it would have significant implications, allowing Russia to extend its exclusive economic zone by another 241 kilometres. According to international law, this part of the Arctic, crucial for navigation, security, and resource extraction, would become a Russian-controlled area.
Militarisation of the Arctic
During the first Cold War, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev referred to the Arctic as a "zone of peace," highlighting the minimal military activity in the region. Although both the East and the West had been building Arctic bases for decades, due to climatic conditions and the ice covering most of the area, the military engagement of NATO and the Warsaw Pact (and practically the USSR) was limited.
Climate change has turned Arctic tranquillity on its head. Russia has begun to re-supply not only long-closed military bases but also to construct new ones, including airbases and radar stations.
A symbol of Russia's remilitarisation of the Arctic is the expansion of the Nagurskoye base, where on Franz Josef Land, a 2.6-kilometre airstrip and infrastructure for servicing MiG-31 and Su-34 aircraft have been developed.
Sirius Patrol and the Arctic Angels
These actions have not gone unanswered. This year’s NATO military manoeuvres - and the entire series - are the culmination of years of rebuilding the West’s ability to conduct warfare in the Far North.
For decades, establishing Danish jurisdiction over Greenland was managed by the Sirius Dog Sled Patrol. This elite, currently 14-member, military unit is responsible for sending two-person patrols along Greenland's coast.
Troops on dog sleds traverse thousands of kilometres of icy wastelands, demonstrating to the world that Denmark controls this territory.
The soldiers of the Sirius Patrol are distinguished by their unique armament, which includes modern Glock 20 pistols (firing powerful 10 mm ammunition) and traditional M1917 Enfield rifles developed for World War I.
The combination is deliberate, as these weapons have proved reliable in extreme conditions.
Although the Sirius Patrol continues to patrol Greenland, today - in a new cold war climate - 14 personnel are insufficient to compete for the Arctic. That’s why the United States reactivated the Arctic Angels, namely the Alaska-based 11th Airborne Division "Arctic Angels".
When it became evident that the American forces' inability to operate in the far north was embarrassing (their equipment included vehicles unable to operate in deep snow), the Pentagon began taking these new challenges seriously.
Articulated, tracked all-terrain vehicles known as Beowulf have been introduced into service, and exercises beyond the Arctic Circle are being conducted not only by Arctic units but also by the Marine Corps.
Who will break the Arctic ice?
After decades of neglect, the United States launched the Polar Security Cutter programme to build three new large icebreakers (currently, they have two). Russia has 34 such vessels, seven of which are large nuclear-powered icebreakers.
Some Russian units are also equipped to mount weaponry. Patrol vessels, essentially armed icebreakers, are also possessed by the Russian border guard.
China is also constructing new large icebreakers, and the issue has been recognised by the new American administration. At the end of January, Americans attempted - unsuccessfully - to free the 202-metre transport ship Manitoulin, stuck in the ice off the northern coast of the continent.
Ultimately, the vessel was freed with the help of Canadians, and Donald Trump commented on the situation. The American president announced plans for the United States to build 40 new icebreakers.
The construction of an even greater number of such units - up to 90 - is envisaged by the tripartite ICE Pact (Icebreaker Collaboration Effort) agreement from 2024, signed between the USA, Canada, and Finland, which has the greatest experience and capabilities in building such vessels in the West.
