Arctic Heats Up

On May 13, President Medvedev reconfirmed the Strategy of National Security through 2020. The document stresses the implementation of the strategy as "a mobilizing factor for the development of the national economy, improving people's quality of life, political stability in society, strengthening the national defense of national security and the rule of law, improving the competitiveness and the international prestige of the Russian Federation."

Apart from giving a nod to the importance of alternative energy, the document noted that Russia must counter the threats of the depletion of world reserves of mineral, water and biological resources through the "introduction of environmentally sound production, the search of promising energy sources, formation and implementation of state programs to build strategic reserves of mineral resources."

The Times and Guardian picked up on some of the more militaristic points, i.e. "The presence and potential escalation of armed conflicts near Russia’s national borders, pending border agreements between Russia and several neighboring nations, are the major threats to Russia’s interests and border security" and "in a competition for resources, it can't be ruled out that military force could be used for resolving emerging problems."

Noting the "incredible nervousness" and "panic reaction" of these UK press accounts, RIA Novosti commentator Andrei Fedyashin noted:

"As a strategic vision it is not only a statement of national interests and threats to them, but also a warning to many world capitals, where Arctic resources for long looked upon with excitement. The conclusion was made clear -- Moscow will be ready to defend its interests in the Arctic. The type of pranks such as last year's placing of a [Russian] flag at the bottom of the Arctic Ocean are over. Now everything is serious."

Signing the strategy release by Medvedev on May 13 was no coincidence -- it marked just one day before the deadline to clarify its application to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf on territorial claims to the Arctic shelf, submitted by Russia in 2001. This means that those who did not submit such applications (i.e. NATO countries Canada, U.S., Norway, Greenland/Denmark) will not be able to claim its share of the shelf, which is believed to hold vast amounts of hydrocarbons. The UN process, filled out by 48 other countries, refers to territorial claims around the world.

The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982 governs all parties as well as settlement of all possible territorial issues. The United States has signed, but not ratified, this "maritime constitution," due to a conflict with interest with Canada over rights of passage through the Arctic Sea. As a signatory to the Convention since 1997, Russia claims rights to the continental shelf 350 miles from the territorial waters, and is attempting to claim even more if it proves that its continental shelf beyond the limits of its economic zone.

While NATO allies U.S. and Canada bicker about what is international waters and what isn't, Russia is already making a case to prove that the underwater Lomonosov Ridge is a continuation of the Siberian continental plate, and Russia has all rights to it and any potential energy resources. In addition, it is in Russia's best interest to allow global warming to unlock potential hydrocarbon resources in the region.