Russian Arctic Ambitions: Background

Russia has the longest Arctic coastline in the world, and the biggest claim to resources in, and under the Arctic Ocean. As of 2023, they are the only country that operates nuclear icebreakers, and the only country that has proven their ability to successfully conduct icebreaking operations in the Arctic region in the dead of winter, when ice is the thickest. With plans to begin year-round shipping on the entire NSR in 2024.

Amidst these efforts to have the NSR open year-round, and significant sanctions placed on Russia in 2022 after the country’s invasion of Ukraine, Russia continues to build up its military presence in the Arctic region, develop and test new weapons, and reopen old Soviet military bases along their Arctic coastline.

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