The Secretary of Russia’s Security Council Nikolay Patrushev noted that the countries of U.S., Norway, Denmark, and Canada are mounting a coordinated effort to block Russia’s exploration of the Arctic shelf.
Not long ago Canada renewed its campaign to assert claims to the Arctic regions that are believed to contain significant hydrocarbon reserves. Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper recently made a week-long visit to the Arctic regions of the country. Canada conducted its Nanook-2009 military exercises in the area. Minister Harper conducted a meeting of the members of Canada’s cabinet in the city of Iqaluit, which is the capital of the northernmost administrative territory of Nunavut.
The trips of the Prime Minister to the northern regions have now become regular events in Canada. Military exercises have also become common. Nanook training maneuvers are scheduled every year. Canada’s Defense Minister Peter MacKay noted in a recent speech that the Arctic represents a substantial part of the country, and Canada’s presence in the region will increase in the future. The activities of Russia’s forces in the Arctic have provoked hard feelings on the part of authorities in Ottawa.
In the middle of February, Russian long-range Tu-95MS bombers flew past the border with Canada. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the two aircrafts were conducting a training mission. Canadian officials found it difficult to believe that such a random coincidence would happen right before the visit of U.S. President Obama to Ottawa.
Mr. Dmitriy Trofimov, a spokesman for the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Canada, denied that Russian pilots intentionally approached Canada’s borders. The diplomat had to provide an official report on the situation before Canada’s parliament.
In July, Canadian official voiced serious concerns with regards to Russia’s testing of ballistic missiles launched from submarines stationed at the North Pole. Canada’s Defense Ministry was also worried about Russia’s plans to land airborne divisions at the North Pole as a commemoration of the anniversary of first Arctic military operations. According to a recent statement by Canadian Defense Minister, the country is prepared to give an appropriate response to any unauthorized activity close to its borders.
The issue of the Arctic presents substantial predicaments in the relations of Canada and Russia, according to Canadian analyst Michael Byers. Byers’ book Who Owns the Arctic is scheduled to be released in the next few months. While recognizing the difficulties that the question of Arctic resources brings to the forefront, Byers believes that the general tone of Russian-Canadian relations is amicable. From an objective standpoint, it is difficult to say that Russia’s activities in the area evince any intentions to cause problems.
Still, the symbolic conflict rages on. In August 2007, Russia placed its flag encased in a capsule of titanium on the floor of the Arctic Ocean very close to the North Pole. The head of Canada’s Foreign Affairs Ministry Peter MacKay at that time called on Russian explorers not to forget that the world has long ceased to use 16th century methods, where colonial empires could post their flags on far-away continents and lay claims to uncharted lands. Following that exploratory mission carried out by Russia, Canada’s perception of the situation appears to have changed. Canada undertook more scientific expeditions and began organizing military maneuvers in the region.
Today, Canada maintains a military presence in the Arctic all the time. The forces continue to grow. Additional patrol vessels will be added to the group within five years.
Mr. Franklin Griffith of the non-governmental Canadian Institute of International Affairs commented that Canada is taking a much more active role in caring for its interest in the region than the United States. America’s support, according to Mr. Griffith, will be important in the future.
The administration of Stephen Harper created a long-term strategy founded on four grounds: environment, development, sovereignty, and autonomy. The new slogan of Canada’s Prime Minister is “Master the Arctic before you lose it.”
At the same time, Russia’s interests in the region are also significant. With its abundance of petroleum reserves, the Arctic shelf is especially appealing to Russian energy executives and members of government responsible for the oil sector. Last September, Russia’s President Medvedev signed off on the nation’s strategy for the Arctic region until the year 2020. Russian officials have already noted the resentment of other major world powers to the country’s long-range designs.
In view of other experts, however, statements that the Western powers have espoused a joint plan to counteract Russia’s efforts are simply inaccurate. The West is not monolithic, and each country is trying to pursue its own policies, which at times might even collide with one another. The U.S., for instance, has refused to acknowledge that the Northwest Passage connecting the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans is under Canada’s jurisdiction.
In the opinion of Michael Byers, Russia and Canada need to ease rhetoric tension and begin to collaborate together within the framework of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Only international law will be able to provide answers to the question of who ultimately gets the Arctic oil.