Russia's Arctic Militarization (merged)

[Cloud Cover]

True. Can they speak Russian though?

 

[MarkOttawa]

Post giving 2020 update on Russia in Arctic:

The Bear’s Arctic Build-Up (not aimed at North American portion), Part 2
https://mark3ds.wordpress.com/2020/05/04/the-bears-arctic-build-up-not-aimed-at-north-american-portion-part-2/

Mark
Ottawa

 

[Stoker]

Post giving 2020 update on Russia in Arctic:

Mark
Ottawa

Nice digs, can support 150 troops. In reality about 50 troops are actually stationed there.

 

[MarkOttawa]

Nice digs, can support 150 troops. In reality about 50 troops are actually stationed there.

Almost looks like a space base out of Star Trek or something  !

Mark
Ottawa

 

[Stoker]

Almost looks like a space base out of Star Trek or something  !

Mark
Ottawa

If I was a betting man, its probably optimized for efficiency and heat. Perhaps we should order a few prefab from the Russians.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

In anticipation of increased sea traffic in the Arctic Ocean and its peripheral seas, Russia has bolstered its Arctic military presence in recent years. It has reopened abandoned Soviet-era military installations, invested in the construction of new military bases and icebreakers, increased troop presence and Arctic military drills, and established advanced radar stations. Such actions have triggered discussions about Russian intentions in the Arctic, often described as revisionist and aggressive. How concerned should the West be?Any military build-up is generally not an end goal in itself but a manifestation of national interests and priorities. With this in mind, Russia’s military build-up in the Arctic can be analysed against three priorities pursued by Moscow. First, to ensure perimeter defence of the Kola Peninsula and the survivability of second-strike nuclear assets. Second, to protect Russia’s commercial interests in its Arctic zone. And third, to address socio-economic and demographic challenges facing its polar regions. In examining these in turn, it is clear there is much more to Russia’s military build-up in the Arctic than mere muscle-flexing.


https://www.europeanleadershipnetwork.org/commentary/what-are-the-main-drivers-behind-russias-military-build-up-in-the-arctic/

 

[Weinie]

Hmmm. So Russia's action, according to this think-tank analysis, are defensive and benign?

 

[Colin Parkinson]

Russia has the right and obligation to secure their Arctic region and manage vessel and air movements there. It's where their jurisdiction butts up against others is where potentiel aggression and friction appear.

 

[daftandbarmy]

Russia has the right and obligation to secure their Arctic region and manage vessel and air movements there. It's where their jurisdiction butts up against others is where potential aggression and friction appear.

They're also paranoid, mainly about Chinese expansion it seems:

China, Russia, and Arctic Geopolitics

China’s burgeoning role in the Arctic could translate into direct competition with Russia.

Russia’s involvement in the region is to be expected, as one of the eight countries with territory above the Arctic Circle — and vast territory at that, with thousands of miles of coastline. Moscow’s involvement has been significant and long-lasting, with Russia advocating for the development of the Northern Sea Route along its Siberian coast as an alternative to southern routes through the Suez Canal and investing in the construction of the only icebreakers capable of operating in the Arctic Ocean.

China is a less obvious player in the Arctic, with its closest territory some 5,000 miles by sea from the Bering Strait. Even so, China has in recent years pressed for a greater role in Arctic affairs, becoming one of the 13 observer states of the Arctic Council in 2013. In 2018, China released an official white paper entitled “China’s Arctic Policy” — a step that in and of itself signals the country’s intent to play a larger role in the region — in which it outlines its priorities in the Arctic and describes itself as a “near-Arctic state.”

The cooperation between China and Russia in recent years adds an intriguing complexity to Arctic geopolitics. Experts are divided on whether the warming of Sino-Russian relations is a true strategic alliance or merely a marriage of convenience. Proponents of the former point to the numerous agreements signed between the two countries — punctuated by the personal friendship of the two nations’ leaders — and the two sides’ common voting record on the United Nations Security Council. Skeptics reason that Russia and China often have diverging goals despite mutual interests and remain distrustful of each others’ intentions. In this paper, we focus on the long-term outlook for the Sino-Russian relationship regarding the Arctic.

https://thediplomat.com/2020/03/china-russia-and-arctic-geopolitics/

 

[Underway]

The cooperation between China and Russia in recent years adds an intriguing complexity to Arctic geopolitics. Experts are divided on whether the warming of Sino-Russian relations is a true strategic alliance or merely a marriage of convenience. Proponents of the former point to the numerous agreements signed between the two countries — punctuated by the personal friendship of the two nations’ leaders — and the two sides’ common voting record on the United Nations Security Council. Skeptics reason that Russia and China often have diverging goals despite mutual interests and remain distrustful of each others’ intentions. In this paper, we focus on the long-term outlook for the Sino-Russian relationship regarding the Arctic.

https://thediplomat.com/2020/03/china-russia-and-arctic-geopolitics/

There is no long term strategic alliance.  They have to many competing priorities.  A world dominated by China would be a bigger problem then a world dominated by the US.  After all the US is far away and generally isolationist.  China is next door and cranky.