Amid US-China tensions, Russia accelerates Arctic strategy

These include increasing military strength and presence in the West, close to NATO countries, conducting large-scale exercises in the Black Sea with the participation of dozens of warships; especially deploying S-400 defense missile systems and hypersonic weapons systems in the Arctic - a new hot spot of competition between major countries. According to observers, the US has never felt "inferior" and worried about Russia in the Arctic like it does now.

IMBALANCE

Russia's military buildup in the Arctic is nothing new, as Russia's Arctic strategy has long been defined and implemented. However, with the rapid development of climate change, the enormous resources in the Arctic are increasingly being discovered, and this region is becoming a new geostrategic hotspot for the big guys to "tear apart". The US also quickly realized the importance of this region when it published a separate strategic report on the Arctic at the Atlantic Security Conference at the end of last year. Most notably, the report clearly identified the US's strategic goals in the Arctic as well as the threats in this region. The US government even proposed to increase cooperation with Canada to monitor sea and air routes in the Arctic. In fact, this move is aimed at monitoring Russian activities such as Moscow's bombers or cruise missiles.

Russian President Putin and his ambitious Arctic strategy. Photo: Reuters

This series of US moves is in response to Russia's recent push on "all fronts" to control shipping routes in the Arctic, in order to prevent the US and NATO from interfering in the region that Russia considers its "home ground". Recently, Russian Vice Admiral Alexander Moiseev informed that the Northern Fleet in the Arctic will soon receive hypersonic weapons, helping to increase the combat potential of the navy. Previously in 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin also introduced the strategic hypersonic weapon complexes Avangard, Kinzhal and Zircon. Meanwhile, the US Thule and Greenland air bases in the Arctic are assessed as not capable of resisting Russia's Kinzhal missile system. Not only that, recently, S-400 missile defense complexes have appeared on Russian islands in the Arctic. Military experts analyze that Russia's S-400 is superior to the US MIM-104 Patriot PAC-3 system in all parameters, such as combat deployment time, firing range or target detection distance... Senior official in Russia's Arctic Council Korchunov did not hesitate to declare that Moscow's modernization of its armed forces or combat training and exercises in the Arctic are entirely defensive.

In the long term, Russia is also accelerating its strategy of building new generations of surface ships and submarines, enhancing the power of weapons to be able to destroy threats. It is expected that these new generation ships will be completed as early as 2025 in the direction of the "multi-purpose nuclear ship" model, integrating the ability to use missiles. This is what makes the Russian Navy different from the Western nuclear submarine development strategy.

Russian Northern Fleet paratroopers in the Arctic. Photo: Russian Defense Ministry

JOINT BENEFITS

Not only strengthening its defense capabilities, Russia also doubled its challenge to the US when there were many signs that the Russia-China alliance in the Arctic was gradually taking shape. On the Chinese side, this country was quite "quick" to see the geostrategic interests of the Arctic, soon declaring itself a "near-Arctic country" with an interest in this region. Looking back at 2018, the Beijing government issued the "Arctic Policy" as part of the "Belt and Road" initiative. By October last year, China's first icebreaker began supporting the Arctic research project. Observers commented that Beijing's approach towards scientific research and economic cooperation is considered "wise", both non-aggressive and seeking cooperation with Russia. Of course, Russia also understands that the potential of the Arctic is huge, cooperation and sharing interests with China is acceptable. Especially when both can "join hands" to deal with the US.

However, in their response, US State Department officials recently rejected China's statement and affirmed that there are only Arctic countries and not the Arctic. And that there is no such thing as a third concept, "near Arctic". This official also emphasized that the US is adjusting its Arctic policies in response to "Russia and China's ambitions to challenge the US and the West". It should be recalled that the Arctic is currently managed by 8 member countries of the Arctic Council, including: the US, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia and Sweden.

Despite the US reaction, the Russian government understands that “joining hands” with China is a strategic card with many benefits in the Arctic at the present stage. Looking back, the two countries have had effective initial cooperation, such as Russia seeking support from Chinese banks for Novatek’s Yamal liquefied natural gas project, when Western funding was interrupted due to sanctions related to the Crimean peninsula. Thanks to strong investment, the China National Petroleum Corporation has won nearly 30% of the shares in this world’s leading large project.

For the first time in more than 30 years, three US Aegis destroyers have entered the Barents Sea. Photo: CNN

Back to the military moves of the parties. Currently, the Russian Northern Fleet maintains 6 military bases, 10 airports and military ports, and many new generation air defense missile systems. As for the US, last May, for the first time in over 30 years, 3 Aegis destroyers including: USS Donald Cook, USS Porter and USS Roosevelt entered the Barents Sea. There have been no collisions between the parties, but it would be very risky for the US to make any "aggressive" moves towards Russia regarding the Northern Sea Route. Because for Russia, the Arctic is of special importance in all aspects!

However, according to observers, there may not be any “hot clashes” but the security situation in the region will not be as calm as before. Despite countries still struggling to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic, the US has to “distract” its attention to the competition with China as well as the presidential election at the end of the year, an arms race and increased military presence are expected to continue strongly in the near future./.