Posted on 11/08/2021 9:24:13 AM PST by Retain Mike
Russia’s ambition to remain the Arctic superpower is propelling its all-out effort to guard its economic interests there with broad territorial claims over waterways and a continued military build-up in a region the United States often ignored, an expert on Arctic defense and security said Wednesday.
As a consequence of its vision of the Arctic as an economic engine for growth, Moscow “has done a better job of building out infrastructure,” from expanding its fleet of icebreakers to modernizing ports and ramping up military presence in specially-designed “Arctic Trefoils” military bases to back its claims over the Northern Sea Route, Bouffard and other speakers at the forum said.
This emphasis on defending what the Kremlin considers its own territory has translated into Russia building 10 dual use coastal stations along the Northern Sea Route. In addition, it has re-opened or built airfields backed up with S-400 air defense systems and modernized ports, often with Chinese investments to expedite liquefied natural gas exports. But the airfields also serve a military purpose, if needed.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.usni.org ...
I saw that one.
The Russians are killing Polar Bears!
LOL, I look at the cast and I immediately think, “One of these things is not like the others...”
Vlad needs to tread lightly on this lest Brandon issue a meeting behind the gym threat.
Brandon is more likely to respond with a noisy and prolonged afflatus. Gas diplomacy.
If you want the latest on arctic news check THE BARENTS OBSERVER website. Lotsa good information on Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia regarding the arctic. Military, economic, culture.
Thanks.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.