Russia Conducts Major Arctic Research Expedition

The nuclear powered Russian Ice breaker, Yamal, carried a team of Russian researchers along the Arctic Coast, described as the largest research expedition in 20 years. Research was conducted in four seas as well as other archipelagos. Special interest was shown towards the Kara Sea.  An article from Alaska Dispatch News details Russian researchers’ efforts. The […]

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On Important Arctic Shipping Routes, Russia Advances while U.S. Falls Behind

Thinning of Arctic ice, icebreaking technology, and growing supply and demand for resources have made the Arctic an important area to develop efficient shipping routes. Thus far, Russia has taken advantage of shipping links connecting Europe and Asia. Currently, the US and Canada have the potential to take advantage of Arctic shipping regimes in the […]

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OpEd: Obama Policies Hinder Arctic Development

While the Obama Administration continues to implement policies that hinder Arctic development, Russia militarizes the area and pursues yet to-be-tapped oil, gas and mineral deposits. This according to David Hunt, retired U.S. Army colonel and former security advisor to the FBI in a piece for the Washington Examiner. Hunt assesses the importance of expanding Arctic policies […]

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Russia Provokes Finland, Questions Western’s Readiness for Russia’s Arctic Advancements

Russia’s increasing presence to militarize, exploit energy resource potential, and secure a northern sea Route in the Arctic poses questions about western nation’s readiness in the northern security race. A Wall Street Journal editorial outlines the potential valuable resources in the Arctic as well as Russia’s goals, followed by their efforts to demobilize Finland’s Arctic initiatives. “That is […]

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International ‘Geotraces Project’ Studies Arctic Waters

A U.S. ship will take a team of researchers through the Bearing Straight and to the North Pole this summer as part of the Geotraces Project according to the Alaska Dispatch News.  “Part of the plan is that we’ll have a crossover station with the Europeans and a crossover station with the Canadians. And we will […]

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Russia Adds Bastion Anti-Ship Missile Complexes to Arctic Ship Fleet

Russia develops new Bastion anti-ship missile complexes in efforts to increase military presence in the Arctic. The International Business Times details the implications of Russia’s advancing ship fleets. The coastal defense missile system is reportedly designed to destroy various enemy ships, including landing squadrons, convoys, carrier strike groups and single vessels. “The Russian military group in […]

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Japan Pursues Renewable Energy Exports from Arctic

Norwegian and Japanese companies are teaming up to pursue interests in energy exports from the Arctic in the form of a clean renewable energy resource, wind energy. An article from the Alaska Dispatch News reviews Norwegian and Japanese efforts to take advantage of potential renewable resources in the Arctic. Norwegian and Japanese companies are interested in […]

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Icebreaker Ships Prepare Nations for Warming Arctic Weather While US Ship Fleets Lag

USCGC Polar Sea, one of 3 U.S. icebreakers

Non-bordering and bordering Arctic nations have responded to reduced ice pack with the development of ice breaking ships to open shipping lanes and access oil and gas reservoirs in the Arctic. Currently, the United States utilizes one icebreaker, in comparison to Arctic-bordering nations, such as Canada, Sweden, Finland, and Russia, who operate large fleets.  An […]

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Canada Seeks Sovereign Ownership over Important Arctic Waters

Jim Balsillie, former CEO of research in Motion, has discovered the HMS Erebus, one of two ships lost during the British Navy’s 1845 quest to find the Northwest Passage. Discovery of the HMS Erebus, may grant Canada control over an important maritime region of the Arctic. Bloomberg Business details the importance of the Northwest Passage and the symbolic magnitude […]

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US & Sweden Monitor Russia’s Progression in Arctic

The US & Sweden closely monitor Russia’s military buildup in the arctic. The Alaska Dispatch News examines the two nations’ responses to the changing security landscape in the Arctic. At a conference in Washington on the future of the Arctic, former U.S. Coast Guard Admiral Robert Papp told Swedish Radio’s correspondent that the United States is closely […]

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