On Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov voiced concern over the uptick in US and NATO military activity in the Arctic. The comments were made in a speech at a meeting of the Arctic Council in Reykjavik, Iceland.
“We are concerned about what is going on close to our border with Norway,” Lavrov said. The US has been putting more focus on military cooperation with Norway as part of its strategy to confront Russia in the Arctic. Earlier this year, the US deployed long-range bombers to Norway for the first time.
Next year, Norway will host US and NATO forces for military exercises that will involve about 40,000 troops, which the head of Norway’s military said will be “the largest military exercise inside the Arctic Circle in Norway since the 1980s.”
The Arctic Council currently does not deal with military issues, something Lavrov said should change. “It is important to extend the positive relations that we have within the Arctic Council to encompass the military sphere as well,” he said.
On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused Russia of making “unlawful” claims in the Arctic, something he said the US will “respond to.” Blinken also warned against increased military activity in the region, but it’s clear that the US and NATO are set on militarizing the Arctic.
On Wednesday, Blinken met with Lavrov on the sidelines of the Arctic Council meeting, marking the first high-level in-person meeting between US and Russian officials of the Biden administration. While tensions are high between the two countries due to Biden’s hostile policies, Lavrov was cautiously optimistic and described the talk with Blinken as “constructive.”
Unlawful?
Here we go again. US is not recognizing the ONLY legal framework that governs the sea rights — UNCLOS. Russia has made requests through UNCLOS bodies for examining submitted geological data. It concerns Lomonosov Ridge, and Russia’s rights under UNCLOS.
US seems to have adopted its own “rules based order” that denies UNCLOS rights and practices under UNCLOS extended economic zone (EEZ), as well as rights under UNCLOS determination of continental shelf.
Since US is not UNCLOS signatory, by the very UN rules, has no legal standing in any dispute concerning the laws in the rights of the seas.
Yet, it is constantly meddling in other countries’ disputes, or even lack of disputes. Recently Us sent warships through Indian EEZ, making it VERY clear that “excessive” claims.will not be tolerated.
What is transpiring in Arctic is actually sad. Norway that once flourished in era of intense trade from Black Sea and Asia, across North Sea coastal states to Scotland and Ireland — will now be put in a straight jacket. Just at the time Northern shipping routes are becoming viable. And they are not viable due to manna from heaven in the shape of global warming — but because of investments Russia made in shipping infrastructure all along its coast. Ports with ship repair facilities, ship refueling and supplies, rail connections to interior, making transit of goods possible by combined sea and land routes. Russia also invested in icebreakers, to deal with any emergency and rescue,
The idea that US wants to isolate Nordic countries, Baltic countries, East Europe and Germany from Asia — is obvious. And US efforts to control all global straits in the name of “freedom of navigation” also obvious. Thus any independent routes, Silk Road, existing continental transit across Asia to Europe — can only be stopped if the countries of Europe are cut off from Asia.
Russia, Russia is an excuse. All links between Asia and Europe go across Russia.
Thus, the most transparent effort to cut Asia from Europe is — for Europe to make Russia an enemy. What sad testimony to power craving! Nordic, East European and Baltic countries, are as far as you can get from Asia by sea. And as close as you can get by land across Russia.
Yet, they are forced to sacrifice their future economic development on the altar of US global supremacy.
All that will happen is marginalization of Europe.
Asia and Russia will become more integrated. And with the entire continent underdeveloped with HUGE human potential, development will intensify. Absence of Europe simply means more intensive development of Central Asia, and countries already linked to Asian economic and security future, such as Iran, Turkey and Pakistan. For now India needs to balance between US and Asian worlds, but it is clear. The amount of trade between India, Korea and Japan with China has grown exponentially. They are not to commit economic suicide,
As for Europe, I am not sure.