[Bus Insider] Moscow has made no secret of its interest in positioning itself as the paramount military power in the Arctic in recent months. As the Kremlin looks to take advantage of the potential bounties of the far north as the Arctic melts, its neighbors are paying attention.
Russia has "twofold objectives" in the Arctic, a senior official in the Finnish Defense Ministry told The Wall Street Journal.
The first is to "secure the Northern Sea Route and [exploit] the energy-resources potential," while the second is to increase "their ability to surveil that part of the world, to refurbish their abilities for the air force and the Northern Fleet."
He added that Russian military planners are "exercising their ability to move their airborne troops from the central part of Russia to the north."
The allure of being a commanding actor in the Arctic is obvious. By 2030, the WSJ notes, the Northern Sea Route will be passable by ships nine months a year. The route could cut down travel time between Europe and East Asia by as much as 60% while compared to current routes through the Panama or Suez Canals.
Additionally, the US estimates that a significant proportion of the Earth's untapped petroleum -- including about 15% of the world's remaining oil, up to 30% of its natural gas deposits, and about 20% of its liquefied natural gas -- are stored in the Arctic seabed.