While US meddled in Greenland, Russia quietly moved in on this strategic Arctic territory belonging to Norway

Economic Times

a day ago

Russia moves to get an Arctic territory: Russia increases its presence in Svalbard. This area is under Norway's control. Experts believe Moscow uses US Arctic moves as cover. Svalbard's location is strategically important. It overlooks the Greenland-Iceland-UK Gap. Russia fears NATO militarization of Svalbard. Recent incidents include Chechen forces spotted and severed communication cables.
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Why Is Svalbard Gaining Strategic Importance?
Russia's Real Focus: Military Leverage Over the GIUK Gap
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Russia's Fears Over NATO Military Use of Svalbard
Signs of Russia's Growing Presence In Svalbard
Chechen special forces were spotted using Svalbard's main airfield during Arctic drills.
A Russian trawler allegedly severed undersea communication cables in 2022.
Soviet flags have reappeared in Russian settlements like Barentsburg and Pyramiden.
In 2023, Russia's consul general held a symbolic Victory Day parade on Norwegian soil.
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As US ambitions inmade global headlines, anotherflashpoint quietly began to heat up, this time in Norway's backyard, as per a report. While American diplomatic efforts focused on Greenland's strategic value, especially under the Trump administration,was busy stepping up its presence and influence in the, a remote cluster of icy islands undercontrol, as per a report by Caliber.Experts now warn thatmay be using Washington's Arctic moves as cover to press its own claims in Svalbard, due to Svalbard's location, which offers even more strategic leverage than Greenland, as per the report.Located roughly midway between mainland Norway and the North Pole, Svalbard has long been on the periphery of global attention, as per Caliber. But that changed as melting Arctic ice opened up new opportunities for shipping routes and natural resource extraction, and shifted global attention to the far north, according to the report.ALSO READ: Bitcoin to $300,000? Traders warn of massive surge before next Great Depression hits Russia has increasingly accused Norway of monopolising the surrounding continental shelf, but analysts argue the real value of Svalbard isn't economic, it's strategic, as per Caliber. Its location provides a key vantage point over the Greenland-Iceland-UK (GIUK) Gap, a narrow maritime corridor that Russian submarines would need to cross during a conflict, as per the report. NATO's control over Svalbard, especially Bear Island at the southern end, could give the alliance a critical military advantage, as per the Caliber report.Moscow's fear is that Norway, with backing from the US and NATO allies, could eventually militarize the archipelago, transforming Svalbard into a launchpad for surveillance missions or even strike aircraft operations that could threaten Russia's nearby missile testing facilities in Novaya Zemlya, according to the Caliber report.While overt military activity remains unlikely for now, especially given Russia's ongoing military strain in Ukraine, but political and psychological pressure is expected to grow, and reportedly Moscow will continue to test the limits of NATO's response, as reported by Caliber.ALSO READ: 8 video games Twitch turned into global hits: Dune Awakening, GTA 5, Fortnite, Among Us, Phasmophobia and more Incidents in recent years have raised the speculations, as per the report:Another significant move is that Russia planned to build a research center on the archipelago and extend invitations to BRICS member states, as reported by caliber. This move could mark the beginning of a broader diplomatic and geopolitical effort to entrench Russian influence under the guise of scientific cooperation, as reported by Caliber.Its location gives a major advantage in watching and controlling key naval routes between the Atlantic and Arctic.That's unlikely right now, but the political pressure and strategic posturing are definitely heating up.