Jun 30, 2024 07:47 PM
https://thedebrief.org/a-future-war-is-b...it-starts/
INTRO: As global temperatures rise and Arctic ice recedes, a new geopolitical battleground is emerging in the Far North. Once a remote and inaccessible region, the Arctic is rapidly becoming a focal point for international competition and potential conflict between Russia and the NATO allied states. With vast natural resources and newly accessible shipping routes, the stakes are high, and the Arctic could easily become the next major battleground.
“Russia’s focus on the region is largely due to having one-fifth of its territory north of the Arctic Circle. The country wants to develop shipping lanes with the Northern Sea Route as well as the exploitation of natural resources,” Nicolas Jouan, a senior analyst with RAND told The Debrief. “Regardless of the economic viability of these projects, Russia seems determined to invest in such developments for strategic reasons.”
Jouan, who is an expert in European defense, penned an analysis report for RAND, saying that NATO needs to step up its game in the Arctic or suffer the long-term consequences of a more prolific Russian presence.
“The lack of strategic and operational coordination among NATO countries in the Arctic is, in my opinion, the most pressing issue,” he explained.
According to the RAND report, three key factors have driven the transformation of the Arctic into a strategic hotspot.
First, global warming has dramatically altered the region’s landscape, making previously ice-locked areas navigable and accessible. Second, this newfound accessibility has opened up opportunities for maritime activities, including fishing, trade, tourism, and military operations. Finally, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has severely strained relations between Moscow and Western Arctic nations, rendering cooperation in the region more challenging than ever.
As a result, NATO has begun to realize that Russia’s overall aggression is not going to slow down, so its posture towards Arctic defense has shifted... (MORE - details)
INTRO: As global temperatures rise and Arctic ice recedes, a new geopolitical battleground is emerging in the Far North. Once a remote and inaccessible region, the Arctic is rapidly becoming a focal point for international competition and potential conflict between Russia and the NATO allied states. With vast natural resources and newly accessible shipping routes, the stakes are high, and the Arctic could easily become the next major battleground.
“Russia’s focus on the region is largely due to having one-fifth of its territory north of the Arctic Circle. The country wants to develop shipping lanes with the Northern Sea Route as well as the exploitation of natural resources,” Nicolas Jouan, a senior analyst with RAND told The Debrief. “Regardless of the economic viability of these projects, Russia seems determined to invest in such developments for strategic reasons.”
Jouan, who is an expert in European defense, penned an analysis report for RAND, saying that NATO needs to step up its game in the Arctic or suffer the long-term consequences of a more prolific Russian presence.
“The lack of strategic and operational coordination among NATO countries in the Arctic is, in my opinion, the most pressing issue,” he explained.
According to the RAND report, three key factors have driven the transformation of the Arctic into a strategic hotspot.
First, global warming has dramatically altered the region’s landscape, making previously ice-locked areas navigable and accessible. Second, this newfound accessibility has opened up opportunities for maritime activities, including fishing, trade, tourism, and military operations. Finally, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has severely strained relations between Moscow and Western Arctic nations, rendering cooperation in the region more challenging than ever.
As a result, NATO has begun to realize that Russia’s overall aggression is not going to slow down, so its posture towards Arctic defense has shifted... (MORE - details)