JULY 2019 19
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2. Higher-than-Average
temperatures have made
the Arctic more accessible
Naval Base
Air Defense
Electronic Warfare and radar
Infantry Base
Airfield & Search and Rescue
RUSSIAN BASE UNITED STATES BASE
3. Russia is prepared to
defend its arctic claims
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For the last few centuries, the Arctic has
been too icy and too remote to enable
much of the exploitation and competition
among world powers that have shaped
most other regions. But due to thawing ice
and improving technology, this has begun
to change. The Arctic is an emerging
frontier, containing vast quantities of
energy and mineral wealth as well as
shipping lanes that could soon be among
the world's most traversed. The Arctic is
increasingly important to nations with
territory there, and none has been more
determined to dominate it than Russia.
24.3%
Of the world's
known gas reserves
What is estimated to be under arctic ice?
5.9%
Of the world's
known oil reserves
According to NASA, the average
amount of Arctic sea ice present after
the summer melting season has shrunk
by 40 percent since 1980. Winter sea
ice has also been at record lows.
Russia is also protecting its Arctic interests
with a rapidly growing military presence,
while America's military presence in the
region is extremely limited.
" The modernization of Arctic forces and
of Arctic military infrastructure is taking
place at an unprecedented pace not seen
even in Soviet times."
—MIKHAIL
BARABANOV, MOSCOW DEFENSE BRIEF
www.vanguardcanada.com AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019 29
dashboard
Reproduced with the
permission of the
Philadelphia Trumpet.
