Russia and the United States might just battle once more, not over ideology and governance style this time but over the ‘massive mineral wealth hidden deep under the Arctic seabed – much of it made more accessible as the ice cap retreats.’ There just might be the possibility of war on the top of the world. This tension harks back to those decades past when both the old Soviet and U.S. conjured up plans on how to militarize the Arctic.

Up until Russia’s invasion of Georgia in August, war over the North Pole was improbable. Not anymore. Russian President Medvedev has just signed the greenlighting of the country’s massive military upgrade. The Russian government has also made it quite clear that it wants dominion over the Arctic.

Found on the Arctic circle today are military posts owned by Russia, Canada, and the U.S. These have fully equipped guards and helicopters. But experts agree that any military confrontation in the Arctic will be naval in nature. Already poised to address any eventuality are Russia’s Northern Fleet based at Murmansk and the U.S. Second Fleet.

Russia’s plans to expand into domination over the northern frontier come with the strategy of deploying two-thirds of the entire Russian navy in its Northern Fleet. At their disposal are Russia’s newly-revamped nuclear missile submarines. ‘The fleet is also armed with new, sea-launched Bulava intercontinental ballistic nuclear missiles, which are designed to evade U.S. missile defence shields and destroy entire cities.’

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Via Mail Online