U.S. STRATEGIC COMMAND
Climate change presents a potentially significant threat to global security.
Experts say the temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere is gradually increasing due to the greenhouse effect caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons and other human-made pollutants. This phenomenon affects the Arctic. As temperatures rise, the Arctic ice recedes. As the ice withdraws, nations have greater access to the region’s vast resources, such as oil, natural gas and a variety of minerals and ores, potentially worth over U.S. $30 trillion.
The Russian government and its military have taken note and are establishing a presence in the Arctic that will likely affect the stability of strategic deterrence in the region and ultimately around the globe.
Currently, there is one main worldwide maritime trade route, which runs through the Pacific Ocean to the Strait of Malacca, Indian Ocean, Gulf of Aden, Suez Canal, the Mediterranean and then Europe. That represents a 48-day-transit and a distance of about 21,000 kilometers. Russia is seeking to leverage a much shorter trading route through the Arctic. The Northern Sea Route, along the north coast of Russia in the Arctic, is about 12,800 kilometers and takes about 25 days to transit, which is half the time it takes to transit the route through the Suez Canal.
Along with the use of the Northern Sea Route, Russia also has enhanced its military capability by investing in mobile ground-to-air systems, special forces, new military bases, infrastructure and long-range precision weapons. Since 2013, the Russians have established as many as seven new bases and begun construction of a Northern Latitudinal Railway in Russia along the Northern Sea Route. They also have extended runways in Russia to accommodate a wider range of military aircraft, built four nuclear-powered icebreakers and established a strategic unified command along the route. (Pictured: Nagurskoye Air Base north of Russia is part of a Russian military buildup in the Arctic.)
Russia has established the archipelago Franz Joseph Land in the Arctic Ocean about 257 kilometers away from NATO territory with a considerable military presence, including the reopening and expansion of the Greem Bell Airfield, which has the capability to sustain 150 soldiers for 18 months. The Russians also use this area for military weapons testing, including the Poseidon 2M39 autonomous, nuclear-powered underwater vehicle/torpedo; the Tsirkon anti-ship hypersonic cruise missile; and the Skyfall experimental nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed cruise missile. These tests have created deep concern for the Arctic Council and NATO members. Additionally, much of this testing has caused environmental contamination and nuclear fallout issues for Russia and other Arctic nations and is contrary to the Arctic Council’s mission.
The Arctic Council stands as a high-level intergovernmental forum addressing issues faced by the Arctic nations and the Indigenous people of the Arctic. Its mission centers on environmentalism, scientific development and emergency preparedness. The eight members are Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United States.
U.S. military leaders recognize this Russian testing, buildup and expansion in the Arctic and share the Arctic Council’s concern. During testimony before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee in February 2020, U.S. Air Force Gen. Terrence J. O’Shaughnessy, former commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, stated, “We see the Arctic as an avenue approach to our homeland that we need to be able to defend.”
He added: “To support our Arctic operations clearly, we see the future defense of our nation is very critically dependent on our ability to operate in the Arctic, our ability to have domain awareness.” This position exemplifies U.S. military defensive operations in the area and underscores that the U.S. currently approaches the region from a defensive perspective, as compared with a Russian offensive perspective.
With climate change hastening Russian expansion, operations and potential aggression in the Arctic region, the U.S. and NATO must continue to focus on the Arctic region and bolster their efforts to discourage Russia from challenging their military and commercial operations there. Furthermore, the Arctic alliance must maintain its commitment to and capability to execute its peaceful mission in defense of the Arctic region.
IMAGE CREDIT: WIKIPEDIA