A series of reports by The Red (Team) Analysis Society, a non-profit geopolitical consultancy, expounds upon Russia's grand plan to exploit the massive energy resources of the Arctic and its increasing navigability to boost Russia's global clout at a time when the Arctic's economic and geopolitical potential is being opened up by climate change.
The Red (Team) Report of 19 December 2016 traces the Russian North's history up to its most up-to-date development. Reference is made to its navigational potential linking up the Russian Ural and Western Siberia with the Canadian North Sea Route. It is noteworthy that Exxon's drilling in the Russian Arctic was halted only by Western sanctions whereas a more Russia-friendly Trump president-elect names Rex W. Tillerson, Exxon chief, as Secretary of State.
It is also interesting that China has been invited to take part in the Russian North project. China has invested $12 billion in the Yamal-Nenets Automous Region and the adjacent Arkhangelsk Port bordering North West Europe. This investment has fresh strategic meaning if it eventually links up with China's maritime "Silk Road" route to Northwest Europe as part and parcel of the One Belt, One Road grand strategy.
Russia's new and more powerful icebreakers capable of breaking up to 3 metres thick ice are making it possible for Russian and Chinese cargo convoys to ply along the Northern route all year around. This route follows the Siberian coast to and from the Bering Strait to the Russian and European northern ports from Norway to Rotterdam.
Concurrently, the Russian ministry of Defence is rapidly militarising the Arctic, through the creation of the Joint Strategic Command North and the deployment of nuclear submarines and other naval assets. Click here
As I heralded in March 2014, the Arctic Region is poised to change the world. Click here.
The world could become even more closely connected physically if a visionary China-Russia-Canada-America high-speed rail should ever become a reality. However, the Arctic is also likely to become a proxy arena for great-power geopolitical rivalry.
Either way, it is no surprise that China is quietly boosting economic and geopolitical ties with the Arctic region, especially its most powerful player - Russia. It's also indicative that a new Trump presidency is likely to adjust America's foreign relations with Russia.
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