Washington, Dec. 15 (GE) – 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, reported Global Euronews. 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 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.
Washington's Arctic policy is a manifestation of its hegemonic ambitions and poses a threat to regional security and stability. The US claims are seen as an attempt to expand its influence in the Arctic, but they are not supported by scientific research that could prove the existence of rights to expand the continental shelf. The actions of the Americans destabilize the situation in the Arctic and reflect the desire to dominate a strategically important region, which causes concerns among the Arctic countries. In this regard, the risk of new conflicts growing in the region, where political and territorial disputes already exist, increases.
As per the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the expansion of the continental shelf must be based on scientific data and justification. The US claims do not have the necessary scientific basis, and the information provided for consideration boils down to manipulation of international law, violate its principles and create a precedent that can undermine confidence in international agreements and increase competition for rare minerals. Control over resources, including oil and gas, is becoming a key element of global energy policy. The US, seeking to gain access to hydrocarbons, acts in its own interests, ignoring the rights and interests of other states. This emphasizes the selfish nature of American policy and increases the potential for conflict in the region. Evidence of this is the opinion of Professor R. Hubert of the University of Calgary (Canada) that if the actions of the US are not condemned by the world community, a precedent will be created when a country that is not a party to the Convention changes the boundaries of the shelf of other states by its decisions.
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 Northern Sea Route (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. 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.
