Russia is creating a new command for the armed forces to defend Russia’s strategic interests in the Arctic region, based on the present Northern Fleet Navy division and include various existing Arctic-based military units as well as new formations.
The HQ will be named the Northern Fleet – Joint Strategic Command, and its main task will be to defend Russia’s national interest in the Arctic, the Itar-Tass news agency reported Monday, quoting an unnamed source in the Russian General Staff.
The protection of national interests includes both the security of military and merchant ships and of the vast mineral resources of the region, including those located on the Arctic shelf, the source said.
The new command will be similar in status to the existing unit of the territorial division of the Russian military forces – the military district. However, while it bears a different name, the number of military districts will remain the same – there are currently four of them. The Northern Fleet Strategic Command will report to the General Staff and the Defense Minister at first and by the end of 2014 future it will become subject to the National Center of Defense Command the new military structure that is currently in development.
Russia is seeking to secure and reinforce its military presence in the Arctic for some time now, after other nations started to express interest in the regions vast resources. The Basic Concept of State Policy in the Arctic, approved in 2009, outlined the creation of a dedicated military force as a primary objective.
In December 2013, Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said at the ministry collegium that the Arctic group of forces will be created in 2014. Soon after that the minister ordered the general staff to develop a set of instructions on restoration of the Arctic bases and deployment of new forces to the region.
President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated the importance of the Arctic region and the necessity to pay major attention to their defense.
Last month, Putin ordered the head of the Russian arms industry, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, to concentrate the efforts on creation of Arctic infrastructure for the soonest deployment of troops. Rogozin reported that all Russian weapons systems can be produced with special features needed in the extreme North and the weapons companies were ready to supply such arms to the Defense Ministry.
In 2012, Rogozin said in a public speech that Russia might lose its sovereignty in about 40 years if it fails to clearly set out its national interests in the Arctic.
However, not all Russian officials share this position. Also in 2012, a representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Aleksandr Gorban, told reporters that that there will never be a “war for resources” – or an even “hotter” conflict – in the Arctic Region.
Securing of
the Northern Sea Route the main objective of Russia? The Northern Sea Route and
the fast railways between China and Europe would make the "Asian
pivot" (meant to strangle the sea communications of China) almost
irrelevant. I remember with relish arguing (long ago) with friends the many
pluses of the "Eurasian" approach. Against their opinions (invariably
Eurolâtres and Américanolâtres) and anti-Russo-Chinese, I was reminding them
that the communications between China and Russia and Europe are mainly
terrestrials. The Russian petrol could be transported by rail, by road (even by
camels) and certainly by Northern Sea Route… The future is of Eurasia… That is
definitely a major objective. But the overall strategic goal is even bigger
than that - it is the develop the Russian North from the European part of
Russia, through all of Siberia. Therein lies the real future of Russia, the
North, and its immense resources including those who will see a huge surge in
demand during the 21st century: water, organic foodstuffs, bioengineering
resources, tourism and, of course, energy. The untapped wealth of the Russian
North is huge, absolutely immense, but it will also require tremendous efforts
and resources to actually convert that into a real source of wealth for the
Russian people. Putin has started this effort, but it will take decades before
the returns on investment really begin coming in. What is much more immediately
doable is to create a network of cities along the northern coast of Russia with
ports, airfields, roads and a modern infrastructure - this will achieve the
double purpose of securing the Northern Sea Route and prepare for a
"penetration" of the immense landmass of northern Russia…
And if Russia turns in face to the East, it will show its butt to Europe which deserves nothing more…
And if Russia turns in face to the East, it will show its butt to Europe which deserves nothing more…
