Streit um die Arktis

[Schneemann]

Die Meinungsverschiedenheiten sind hinlänglich bekannt, aber der Wettlauf um die Ressourcen in der Arktis, die ja durch den Klimawandel in immer besserem Maße zugänglich werden, könnte durch die Streitigkeiten im Arctic Council (der seine Arbeit im März 2022, nach dem Überfall Russlands auf die Ukraine, vorläufig bzw. teilweise eingestellt hatte) nochmals einen neuen Schwung erhalten...

“The time of Arctic exceptionalism is over” – Lord Ashton

With the Arctic Council's breakdown and Sweden and Finland joining Nato, the inquiry into the Arctic and High North asks serious questions. [...] In an interview with Naval Technology Lord Ashton, chair of the IRDC (International Relations and Defence Committee), explained that as Russia is currently the chair of the Arctic Council of the eight Arctic states, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine having soiled relations between the parties involved, the other seven nations are in a position where they can no longer cooperate with the council. The secretariat of the council still functions, said Lord Ashton, but ”anything that the chair would normally have initiated didn’t happen.”

“The time of Arctic exceptionalism is over,” said Lord Ashton, lamenting the end of “what was a very good example of multipolar diplomacy in the Arctic Council.” [...] The committee will be looking to understand what role the UK can play in Arctic defence and deterrence, and in the event of a confrontation, what capabilities the United States, the United Kingdom, and other Nato members have to project troops forward into the European Arctic.

Part of this will relate to a survey of unique obstacles to military operations in the High North, with particular regard to the special training and equipment that are required to operate in the Arctic. If the High North is expected to be a source of significant military rivalry or security challenges in the future, some determination needs to be made about extra infrastructure, including within the UK, that would be required. [...] Understanding the current level of militarisation is another goal of the inquiry, including the military balance between Russia and Nato allies in the Arctic. The recent entrance of Sweden and Finland to the alliance will bear considerable examination. Evidence will be sought as to whether Russia is increasing its military presence, and the efforts that other Arctic nations have taken to resist Russia’s presence in the region. [...]

Lord Ashton expects the IRDC to visit the Arctic Council during the course of the inquiry to find the answer to this question before delivering their final report at the end of the year.

https://www.naval-technology.com/feature...rd-ashton/

Schneemann