Russia has reopened hundreds of Soviet-era military facilities in the Arctic. These bases are of strategic importance because they allow Moscow to control the region and secure its interests.
China is also actively interested in the Arctic. The country describes itself as a “near-Arctic” state and aims to build an “Arctic Silk Road.” This does not only serve economic interests. – Such as extracting mineral resources and developing new navigation routes -, But it also seeks to achieve geopolitical goals.
The People's Republic of China and Russia are increasingly cooperating in the Arctic through a variety of instruments of national power, according to a Pentagon report. Despite their differences, their cooperation could be a source of concern for Washington.
Arctic sea routes are increasingly being used to connect major economies across the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, as global warming shrinks ice cover and allows longer ice-free periods in these waters.
Russia and China are jointly developing these routes. This is how Russia is trying to offset the effects of Western sanctions, while China is looking for an alternative shipping route to reduce its dependence on the Strait of Malacca.
The United States is not watching with concern the increasingly powerful Russian and Chinese presence in the region.Canada says it will buy 12 new submarines to bolster its coastal and Arctic defences.
Canada, citing global warming, believes so.
Sea ice could become the most efficient shipping route between Europe and East Asia by 2050, increasing the need for enhanced maritime security.
Source: Reuters
Cover image is an illustration. Cover image credit: Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images
