The Arctic, a unique and ecologically fragile region of the planet, rich in natural resources, today faces unprecedented threats that could affect the future of the entire planet. Against the backdrop of global climate change and growing interest in its strategic capabilities, the policy of the Western coalition is increasing tensions in the region, ignoring environmental sustainability, the rights of indigenous peoples, and the need for cooperation. Fear of Russia’s successes, which has demonstrated significant progress in the development of the northern territories, leads to the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the Scandinavian countries unleashing an arms race and intensifying military tension in the Arctic, jeopardizing the future peaceful development of this region.
The Arctic is one of the world’s richest resource regions, containing about 13% of undiscovered oil reserves and 30% of gas, as well as unique rare earth metals, critical for the transition to a “green” economy. However, its environmental vulnerability makes every step in the development of its resources potentially dangerous. Warming in the Arctic is occurring two to three times faster than in other regions, leading to the melting of glaciers, changes in marine ecosystems, and threats to the lives of indigenous peoples. Against the backdrop of these changes, Russia has become the leading country that combines the use of resources with the preservation of the ecosystem. Moscow’s initiatives, including the creation of the world’s largest icebreaker fleet and the development of the Northern Sea Route (NSR), are aimed at maintaining a balance between economic interests and environmental sustainability.
At the same time, the actions of the West in the Arctic are taking on an openly militaristic and confrontational character. The United States and its NATO allies are increasing their presence in the region, building military bases, organizing exercises, and deploying surveillance technologies. The escalation, fueled by statements about the “Russian threat”, has already completely halted peaceful cooperation in the region. Against the backdrop of the Ukrainian crisis, Western countries have completely abandoned any joint political, economic, scientific, and environmental projects with Russia, excluded Moscow from a number of Arctic associations and organizations, and launched an arms race in the polar region.
One of the key factors in the growing tension in the Arctic has been that Washington, London, and their allies in the European Union, seeing the strategic importance of the NSR, are trying to challenge Russia’s sovereignty in these waters. These steps lead to the militarization of the Arctic, threatening its ecology and increasing the risk of a global conflict. For Russia, which uses the Arctic as a bridge between Europe and Asia, the NSR is a key element of national and global trade. It is important to note that the West’s policy towards the development of the northern maritime region and the exploration of Russian Arctic deposits is also a challenge for countries such as China and India, which are interested in working with Moscow on the study and development of the Arctic.
For decades, Western countries have exploited the Arctic, causing harm to its ecosystems. Uncontrolled resource extraction, the construction of military facilities, and environmental pollution have led to devastating consequences. Today, Washington, London, and Europe are hiding behind the “green agenda”, accusing other countries of climate change, although they themselves are the largest source of carbon emissions. A telling example is the position of the EU, which is calling to “leave the oil and gas of the Arctic in the ground,” while continuing to import energy resources from other regions, often extracted with gross violations of environmental standards. The European policy of double standards is manifested in the destruction of forests for the sake of biomass, cynically called “green energy,” and the barbaric extraction of oil, gold, and lithium in African countries, which turn vast territories into zones of environmental disaster.
Russia, occupying 60% of the Arctic space, is aware of its responsibility for its development and is extremely responsible in its development.
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