Arctic on edge: NATO exercises stir tensions with Russia
With the advancement of the climate crisis, the importance of the Arctic is growing. Areas that were once inaccessible are now free of ice for increasingly extended periods, and claims to northern territories, which were until recently limited to political declarations, are now backed by increasing military involvement.
On February 17, Arctic maneuvers will begin, featuring American and Canadian (Arctic Forge 25), Norwegian (Joint Viking 25), and Finnish (Local Defense Exercise 25) troops, along with representatives from other NATO countries. They will jointly practice operations in the extreme conditions of the far north.
This series of military exercises is part of an intensifying military activity in the region. Russia asserts claims in the international arena and simultaneously recognizes the Arctic as its sphere of influence unilaterally.
This was highlighted by the Arktika-2007 expedition, where the icebreaker Rossiya paved the way 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, reaching the seabed about 4 kilometers under the water after many hours of submergence.
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
The basis for Russia's claims is 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 cuts across the Arctic, running under the North Pole almost to Greenland.
If the Lomonosov Ridge were indeed an extension of the Russian shelf, it would have significant consequences, allowing Russia to expand its exclusive economic zone by another 240 kilometers. According to international law, the part of the Arctic crucial for navigation, security, and resource extraction would become Russian-controlled territory.
Militarization of the Arctic
During the first Cold War, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev referred to the Arctic as a "zone of peace," alluding to the minimal military activity in the region. Although both the Eastern and Western blocs were 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 tranquility on its head. Russia has begun to re-supply not only long-closed military bases but also build new ones, including airbases and radar stations.
A symbol of Russia's remilitarization 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 maneuvers—and essentially the entire series—are the culmination of years of rebuilding the West's ability to conduct warfare in the Far North.
For decades, confirming Danish jurisdiction over Greenland was manageable by the Sirius Dog Sled Patrol. This elite, currently 14-member, military unit is responsible for sending 2-person patrols along the coast of Greenland.
Troops on dog sleds traverse thousands of kilometres of icy wastelands, proving to the world that Denmark controls this territory.
The soldiers of the Sirius Patrol are distinguished by unusual armament in the form of modern Glock 20 pistols (shooting powerful 10 mm ammunition) and archaic M1917 Enfield rifles developed for World War I.
The combination is not accidental, as these weapon models have proven their reliability in extreme conditions.
Although the Sirius Patrol still patrols Greenland, today, in the time of a new Cold War, 14 people are far too few to compete for the Arctic. That's why the United States reactivated the Arctic Angels, namely, the Alaska-based 11th Airborne Division "Arctic Angels."
After it became apparent that the American forces' inability to operate in the far north was a problem (the forces' equipment included, among other things, vehicles unable to drive in deep snow), the Pentagon took the new challenges seriously.
Articulated, tracked all-terrain vehicles, like the Beowulf, were 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 program to build three new large icebreakers (currently, they have two). Russia has 34 such units, of which seven are large nuclear-powered icebreakers.
Some Russian units are also equipped to carry weapons. Patrol vessels, essentially armed icebreakers, are also owned by the Russian border guard.
New large icebreakers are also being built in China, and the issue has been recognized 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 that the United States would build 40 new icebreakers.
The construction of an even greater number of such units—up to 90—is envisioned by the tripartite ICE Pact (Icebreaker Collaboration Effort) agreement starting in 2024, signed between the USA, Canada, and Finland, which has the greatest experience and capabilities in building such units in the West.
