Moscow will press Arctic claims with law and military

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
The Arctic ◽  
Competitive Environment ◽  
Resource Base ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Technology Transfers ◽  
Northern Sea Route ◽  
Military Presence ◽  
Territorial Claim ◽  
Defence Sector ◽  
Russian Military

Subject Russia's Arctic strategy. Significance Russia has identified the Arctic as a strategic priority and future resource base, and is working systematically to expand its territorial claim and consolidate control of the Northern Sea Route (NSR). While it seeks cooperation with like-minded Arctic states, it is upgrading its military capacity to defend its interests in what it sees as an increasingly competitive environment as outside players try to make inroads. Impacts NATO states will respond to Moscow's growing military presence by upgrading their Arctic capacity. Russian military expansion will be constrained by procurement delays affecting the defence sector generally. A relaxation in US sanctions would facilitate technology transfers for developing Arctic hydrocarbons deposits.

Profitability of the Northern Sea Route for liquid bulk shipping under post 2020 sulphur regulations

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 313-332
Author(s):  
Tuomo Keltto ◽  
Su-Han Woo
Keyword(s):  
Spot Market ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Estimation Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Freight Rates ◽  
Northern Sea Route ◽  
Financial Perspective ◽  
The Baltic ◽  
Regulation Compliance

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the profitability of the Northern Sea Route (NSR) as a shipping lane from the financial perspective of shipping companies under post 2020 sulphur regulations.Design/methodology/approachThis study develops profit estimation model, and the profitability of the NSR is assessed for a Handymax Medium Range (MR) tanker vessel using scenarios in combination with spot market earning levels, the regulation compliance method and destination ports. The required freight rates are calculated to justify the decision of shipowners to transit a tanker from the Baltic spot market to the NSR navigation.FindingsResults suggest that the required freight rates from the Arctic trade to justify the transit to the NSR are higher than the actual agreed rates in the past, which implies low viability of the NSR as a regular shipping lane. It was also found that the required freight rates are affected by the spot market earning levels, compliance method and duration of the voyage.Research limitations/implicationsThis study takes a new approach on assessing the NSR viability by comprehensively assessing the annual profitability and including the spot market trade as an opportunity cost for the NSR shipping. Despite various scenarios used in this study, a sensitivity analysis would be useful for future research.Practical implicationsThis study suggests how much freight rates a shipping company would need to charge if it were to offer tanker shipping services to four major Asian ports while simultaneously operating at the Baltic Sea during the remainder of the year.Originality/valueThis study adopts a market-oriented approach by incorporating both earnings and costs (including opportunity costs) in the profitability model rather than merely analyzing the total cost of shipping via the NSR. This study also analyzes impact of IMO 2020 Sulphur regulation on the NSR profitability.

Russian Arctic military power will grow

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Armed Forces ◽  
Search And Rescue ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Military Power ◽  
Russian Arctic ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Past ◽  
Russian Military

Significance The past year has seen the Russian military expand its exercises and other activities in the region. As well as creating a new joint command for the Arctic, the Kremlin is increasing the capacity of its military and paramilitary forces to operate there, including on search-and-rescue missions. This ramp-up reflects the broader modernisation of the entire armed forces, which Putin reiterated yesterday remained a key priority. Impacts Other countries engage in military activities in the region, but only Russia has taken major steps to militarise its Arctic frontier. Russian leaders profess peaceful motives but warn that Moscow will defend its Arctic interests with force if necessary. Russia will commission a fleet of highly versatile vessels that can serve as tugs, icebreakers or patrol ships.

Al-Qaida core could keep control of Syria’s Idlib

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Military Leadership ◽  
Islamic State ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Military Presence ◽  
Russian Military ◽  
Military Control ◽  
The Military ◽  
Outreach Initiative

Significance The last major rebel-held area in Syria, Idlib province is under the military control of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a salafi-jihadist rebel alliance. Jaysh al-Ahrar, the largest non-al-Qaida faction in HTS, announced on September 13 it was leaving the organisation. This followed the resignation of one of HTS’s top clerics, Abdullah al-Muhaysini, after the leaking of telephone conversations in which the military leadership criticised him harshly. Impacts Renewed unity talks between mainstream rebel factions will encourage another round of pre-emptive attacks by HTS. Likely rejection of HTS’s outreach initiative by the mainstream opposition will empower the hawks within the group. Possible regime operations against HTS would be limited to peripheral strategic positions such as Jisr al-Shughur. US-backed and pro-Damascus forces will seek to avoid clashes around Deir ez-Zour city in their separate offensives against Islamic State. A Russian military presence will deter Turkey from attacking the Syrian Kurds in Afrin and elsewhere.

scholarly journals The Specifics of the Partnership between Russia and the Republic of Korea in the Economic Development of the Arctic

2021 ◽  
Vol 38 ◽  
pp. 7-14
Author(s):  
Ya. V. Leksyutina ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Republic Of Korea ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Resource Base ◽  
Arctic Council ◽  
Bilateral Relations ◽  
Northern Sea Route ◽  
Policy Statements ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Arctic Policy

Since 2013, when the Republic of Korea (ROK) was admitted in the Arctic Council as an observer and issued its first Arctic policy, Seoul has strengthened its engagement in the Arctic and revealed its strong interest in expanding the economic cooperation in the Arctic with Russia. Seeing Arctic cooperation as mutually beneficial and further advancing the bilateral relations, Russia and the ROK have made a number of policy statements on their intentions to develop cooperation in the Arctic. This paper reveals the specifics and current scale of Russia’s cooperation with the ROK in the development of the resource base of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation and the Northern Sea Route.

Russian build-up raises geopolitical stakes in Syria

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Middle East ◽  
Peace Process ◽  
The United States ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Military Presence ◽  
Gulf States ◽  
Russian Military

Significance US officials estimate that Russia has dispatched tanks and artillery to Syria in recent weeks in a reported military build-up, raising concerns that Moscow is embarking upon an extensive mission to bolster President Bashar al-Assad's embattled regime and establish a substantial Russian military presence in the Middle East. The build-up comes amid an intensive Russian diplomatic drive in Syria. Impacts Recent attempts to revive the UN-backed Geneva peace process will stumble due to the lack of US-Russian and Saudi-Iranian unanimity. Russia will use its influence over Assad as a bargaining chip in its stand-off with the United States and Europe. Hezbollah and Tehran will be emboldened by Moscow's solid backing of the Assad regime. However, this may also complicate Russia's ties with the Gulf states, Turkey and Israel.

Arctic: A Rreimagined Strategic Resource Base for Russia

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-32
Author(s):  
Shaheer Ahmad ◽  
Mohammad Ali Zafar
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
International Law ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Resource Base ◽  
Northern Sea Route ◽  
Regional Dynamics ◽  
Economic Needs ◽  
Strategic Resource

Russia’s Arctic ambitions are gaining attention as global warming provides Russia with an opportunity to access the untapped energy reservoirs lying in the seabed of the Arctic. Russia’s new Arctic strategy aims to utilize the Arctic as a ‘strategic resource base’ to fulfill its socio-economic needs. Moreover, the interrelated projects of Yamal LNG and the opening of the Northern Sea Route as a global shipping route show the Russian interplay of geo-economics and geopolitics. Similarly, the Russian strategies of the Northern Fleet’s revival, Sino-Russian cooperation, regional diplomacy, informational campaigns, and international law show Russia’s efforts to highlight its ambitions in the region. This paper argues that the melting ice in the Arctic coupled with evolving regional dynamics will enhance the Kremlin’s position in the region.

scholarly journals “Our Trip to the Island Should Be as Secure as Possible”: G. D. Krasinsky's Contribution to the Establishment of the Sovereignty of the USSR over the Wrangel Island in 1921–26

2020 ◽  
pp. 751-762
Author(s):  
Evgeniy V. Bey ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
Objective Assessment ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Effective Response ◽  
Wrangel Island ◽  
The Soviet Union ◽  
Military Presence ◽  
Archival Documents ◽  
Military Facilities ◽  
Russian Military

The article draws on archival documents to analyze events connected with the policies of a number of foreign states contesting the sovereignty of the Wrangel Island in the Arctic that belonged to the young Soviet state in 1921-26 and the role of the polar researcher Georgy Davidovich Krasinsky in prevention of these aggressive actions. Content analysis provides new information on this historical episode. The documents from the personal provenance fond of G. D. Krasinsky in the Russian State Archive of Economy demonstrate Krasinsky’s active position and role in the development of the Arctic and in the establishment of Soviet frontiers, when he was appointed assistant to the head of Special hydrographic expedition to the Wrangel Island in 1924. The most interesting document in our opinion – the official address of G. D. Krasinsky to the People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs of G. V. Chicherin concerning organization of the second expedition on the island - is published in the article with some abbreviation. This document provides insight into Krasinsky’s plans on implementation of the final stage of suppression of active actions of foreign “aggressors.” He believed that only actual colonization of the Wrangel Island can provide effective response to the encroachments of the British and Americans, who naturally saw in it an important base for transpolar air traffics. Along with principle of historicism, the article uses method of biographic analysis, which allows to investigate in details Krasinsky’s course of life and to give objective assessment of his professional ability to anticipate the future, that is, to work out his actions proactively. Thus, G. D. Krasinsky ideas were confirmed in the days of the Cold War, when military facilities of the Soviet Union were placed on the island, and it became an important outpost in monitoring the integrity of the Soviet frontiers in the Arctic. We still observe these same tendencies today, in the light of strengthening of the Russian military presence in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation.

Unstable Central Asia will drive Russian regional ties

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Central Asia ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Military Capability ◽  
Military Presence ◽  
Central Asian ◽  
Foreign Operations ◽  
Military Support ◽  
Run Up ◽  
Russian Military ◽  
Vladimir Putin

Subject Russia security and military interests in Central Asia. Significance On January 8, Dushanbe announced the names of four Tajikistani soldiers abducted by unidentified Afghanistan groups. With international forces largely ending their mission in Afghanistan on December 28, concern is growing regarding the threat posed to Central Asia. Central Asian nations are likely to have to cooperate more and rely on Russian military support. Moscow maintains a sizeable military presence in Tajikistan and an air base in Kyrgyzstan. In January, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree allowing foreigners to serve in the Russian military, which could lead to sizeable numbers of Central Asians enlisting. Impacts Russian military capability for deniable foreign operations will grow if significant numbers of foreigners enlist. A security clampdown in Uzbekistan in the run-up to the March presidential election is likely. States will probably arm local non-governmental groups to help police borders with Afghanistan.

Polar Silk Road will reshape trade and geopolitics

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Silk Road ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Economic Viability ◽  
Global Supply Chains ◽  
Northern Coast ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Northern Sea Route ◽  
Strait Of Malacca

Subject Shipping in the Arctic between China and Europe. Significance Climate change is leaving Arctic waters navigable for longer periods, opening a new shipping route from East Asia to Europe along Russia's northern coast. Dubbed the ‘Polar Silk Road’ (PSR) in China and 'Northern Sea Route' (NSR) in Russia, it could eventually become an alternative to the main Strait of Malacca and Suez Canal route, altering global supply chains and geopolitics. Impacts The PSR's economic viability is premised on it being a reliable and safe route; that time is still far off. Melting ice will unlock new natural resources and commercial opportunities. The foremost use of the PSR initially will probably be for shipping resources extracted from the Arctic to markets elsewhere.

Social impacts of climate change and resource development in the Arctic

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 277-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gisele M. Arruda ◽  
Sebastian Krutkowski
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Institutional Design ◽  
Indigenous Population ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Indigenous Populations ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Governance Reform ◽  
Resource Base ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to explore the socio-political implications of climate change as the melting ice ignites new debates over territorial sovereignty of Arctic coastal states. Previously ice-jammed waterways are now open, and a number of recent geological surveys have identified new potential sites with vast energy resources. Competition over resources causes states to question each other’s jurisdiction over specific parts of the Arctic. What used to be internal waters of one particular state can now be referred to as international waters by other actors interested in the benefits of resource extraction. Arctic indigenous groups, especially the Inuit, and Sami are directly affected by the current governance patterns that are fragmented across too many different bodies dealing with maritime navigation, tourism, fisheries and administration. Design/methodology/approach The paper uses a comparative study based on literature review combined with regional reports related to climatic and social impacts analysed jointly with live elements provided by international conferences discussions, workshops and direct conversations in “petit comités” style held in Norway, Greenland and Canada in the period of October 2014 until the first quarter of July 2015, with the representatives of Sami and Inuit communities. Findings The paper demonstrates that Arctic governance is currently fragmented and the largest inter-governmental organisation in the region, the Arctic Council, has only advisory powers, and although its norm-making method helps with the design, it is not effective to implement Arctic-wide policies for responsible management of energy resources. Research limitations/implications The research considered methodological aspects like the difficulty in measuring the elements researched mainly when dealing with the diverse nature of responses from the indigenous populations to environmental impacts and the varied nature of effects in different studied areas. Practical implications As the Arctic is set to become the main global resource base and a major trade corridor, it is crucial to identify the dangers that poor institutional design can cause in relation to the control of extractive industries, sustainable development and the well-being of the region’s indigenous population. Social implications In addition to governance reform, social arrangements should follow to ensure the indigenous populations can also participate in the process to adapt and mitigate the impact of climate change on their traditional livelihood strategies. Originality/value The paper provides an overview on governance reform and social arrangements to ensure that indigenous populations can also participate in the process to adapt and mitigate the impact of climate change on their traditional livelihood strategies. As the Arctic is set to become the main global resource base and a major trade corridor, the paper identified the risks of poor institutional design in relation to the control of extractive industries, sustainable development and the well-being of the region’s indigenous population.

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