The European Union considers himself a full-fledged player in the Arctic and plans to participate in the development of rules for this region. This is reported by Kommersant with reference to the European Commission’s published strategy.
The document states that “the European Union is in the Arctic and has strategic and everyday interests in the Arctic region. The EU full participation in the Arctic matters is a geopolitical necessity.” Among other things, Brussels will promote the idea of a complete prohibition of mining of minerals and a refusal to buy energy mines produced there.
Thus, the newspaper notes, Brussels abandoned unsuccessful attempts to gain observer status in the Arctic Council and changed tactics, deciding to act more straight. This union includes eight states, including Russia, which after superimposed sanctions in 2014 imposes a veto to inclusion in the organization of new players.
The interlocutor of the publication in the state structures of Russia appreciated the claims of the European Union to the Arctic as “an attempt to try on the role of an elephant in the dishwasher.” In particular, he noted, attempts to limit or prohibit product acquisition will be expensive to cost both the Europeans themselves and residents of the region, including indigenous peoples.
The Arctic contains 30 percent of all undiluted gas and 13 percent of the oil reserves of the Earth. Through the Arctic Waters, the Northern Sea Path is running – the shortest trading route from Europe to Asia. The melting of ice will make the way an attractive transport branch comparable to Suez or Panaman channels.
Russia is increasing activity in the Arctic for the sake of this route and insists that there has been special rights. The United States and NATO consider Moscow to be “illegal” maritime claims and increase military presence in the Arctic. Since 2013, the Alliance conducts an exercise of Arctic Challenge, and the United States laid the construction of three atomic icebreakers.
In 2019, it was reported that the Pentagon had to make changes to the tactics of the deployment of forces in the Arctic. The commander of the US and NATO troops in Europe, Curtis Skárrotti, stated that the military department thus responded to the increase in Russia of its defense potential in the region. The general explained that Washington was interested in the resource and commercial perspective of the Northern Sea Route, passing along Russian borders, but Moscow placed radar and defensive systems there, and also built additional airfields. Then the US Navy Commander in Europe and Africa Admiral James Foggo said that the United States will not allow Russia and China to dominate the Arctic, since “Northern Sea Path is not someone’s lake.”