British Defence Secretary announces new plan to boost military presence in the Artic to counter growing “Russian Aggression”. The Arctic Circle is a polar region located at the northernmost part of Earth. It consists of the Arctic Ocean, adjacent seas, and parts of Alaska (United States)..
The British Defence Secretary announces new plan to boost military presence in the Arctic to counter growing “Russian Aggression”.
Background
The Arctic Circle is a polar region located at the northernmost part of Earth. It consists of the Arctic Ocean, adjacent seas, and parts of Alaska (United States), Northern Canada (Canada), Finland, Greenland (Kingdom of Denmark), Iceland, Norway, Russia and Sweden.
The Arctic Circle is the most northerly of the five major circles of latitude as shown on maps of Earth. It marks the northernmost point at which the noon sun is just visible on the December solstice and the southernmost point at which the midnight sun is just visible on the June solstice. The Arctic Circle consists of thick, unnavigable sheets of ice, which until recently, were too thick for ships to pass through. The Arctic circle is a largely unexplored area of natural resources, with frequent Russian expeditions having confirmed large volumes of natural gas and oil deposits.
Only four million people live north of the Arctic Circle due to the severe climate; nonetheless, some areas have been settled for thousands of years by indigenous peoples, who today make up 10% of the region’s population. The largest communities north of the Arctic Circle are situated in Russia, Norway and Sweden.
Analysis
Britain’s defence secretary says the U.K. plans to boost its military presence in the Arctic next year amid concerns about increasing Russian aggression. Gavin Williamson has announced that the government is preparing a “defence Arctic strategy” that would deploy 800 army and marine commandos to Norway in 2019 and establish a new military base there.
Analysts speculate that Britain’s actions are prompted partly by anticipation that Russia will keep expanding its presence in the Arctic. The melting of Arctic Ice, fuelled primarily by warmer temperatures and climate change has also resulted in a rush for the region’s oil.
Williamson said: “We see Russian submarine activity very close to the level that it was at the Cold War, and it’s right that we start responding to that.” In particular, the Arctic strategy stipulates that the UK Marines would continue undergoing joint training with Norwegian counterparts on a long-term basis. As part of the strategy, four RAF Typhoons will start patrolling skies of Iceland in 2019, which is expected to help deter aerial threats to the Euro-Atlantic security, according to the ministry. In 2020, the United Kingdom will also dispatch new P-8 Poseidon anti-submarine aircraft to the region to help combat “increasing submarine activity in the Arctic,” the ministry added. Finally, the Royal Navy is planning to step up its regular under-ice deployments in the coming years.
Earlier, London repeatedly expressed concerns over Russia’s alleged increasing military presence and activities in the Arctic region and voiced fears that navigation in the Arctic could be limited. Moscow has consistently dismissed the allegations, noting that it considers the Arctic to be an area for constructive dialogue and equal, conflict-free cooperation in the interests of all nations.
Counterpoint
The Arctic circle has been the hotbed for militarization efforts for both NATO and Russia (including USSR). Global warming has melted the Arctic Circle’s thick ice sheets which have allowed for commercial shipping lanes to pass through for the first time in history. This has, undoubtedly, triggered covert militarization efforts by NATO and Russia.
In August, Russian Ambassador at Large and Senior Arctic Official Vladimir Barbin pointed to NATO’s ongoing military build-up in the region, citing its upcoming Trident Juncture 18 drills, the alliance’s recent decision to set up the new Joint Force Command for the Atlantic based in the US city of Norfolk which would be in charge of the Arctic-Atlantic zone and Washington’s efforts to re-establish its Second Fleet, mainly operating in Northern Atlantic.
Assessment
Our assessment is that the UK’s decision will trigger a corresponding response from Russia, which has been keen on expanding its own influence in the region. We can expect more aggressive deep-sea drilling from Russia, which was limited until now due to environmental concerns. We believe that this may kick-off a rapid militarisation of the Arctic circle and damage its fragile ecosystem.
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