Russia, turning attention to climate change in time, “bypassed the United States” in the development of the Arctic and the strengthening of its defensive positions there. With such an assessment, the New York Times newspaper appeared on Saturday.
The publication notes that the Russian government “Unlike the US State Department in the Administration of Trump” openly recognized the availability of climate change, adopted in October 2020, the strategy for the development of the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation and ensure national security for the period up to 2035. In the Signed President Vladimir Putin, the decree mentions, in particular, “the growth of conflict potential in the Arctic, requiring a constant increase in the combat capacity of the troops of the armed forces of the Russian Federation, other troops, military formations and organs in the Arctic zone.”
“Although the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have little in common with liberal Western politicians or environmental organizations like Greenpeace, they share the point of view that ice is really melted. This allowed them to bypass the United States,” the New York Times states. At the same time, according to the publication, the US Arctic strategy “will definitely change” under the administration of the current leader Joe Bayden.
The newspaper cites the opinion of Michael Coofman’s analyst from the CNA research center, which under the contract provides the services of the Navy and the US Marine Corps. According to Cowfman, the melting of ice is for the Russian Federation “nightmare”. “This opens a new theater [hostilities] in the event of a conflict with the United States,” the expert believes.
At the same time, the author of the article visiting the northernmost airfield of the country Nurendsky on the island of the land of Alexandra, recognizes that Russia’s attention to the Arctic is dictated in many ways of economic considerations. So, he notes the interest of Moscow to disclosure under the conditions of melting the potential of the Northern Sea Route, as well as the development of new stocks of fossil. At the same time, the journalist admits that the invitation of foreign journalists in the Russian airfield seemed to him “demonstration of the country’s capabilities.”