The Arctic to be the most likely reason for a third world war
Icy Arctic lurking at the top of the globe have been of no interest to anyone for a long time. Arctic ice was always considered insurmountable, but when it became clear that below it there is about 25% of the world's oil and gas, wild interest in the region woke up among many countries.
The exact boundaries of the Arctic are not defined, but the waters of the Arctic Ocean wash the shores of four countries: Russia, Canada, USA, Norway, and Denmark-owned island of Greenland. These five countries and three northern states - Iceland, Sweden and Finland - have established the Arctic Council.
After the stunning results of geological research a number of other countries made their claims on the development of the region: Belgium, Germany, Ireland, China, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Estonia, and Japan. States that have no geographical relationship even to the Arctic Ocean insist on the internationalization of the region and lost no time beginning to invest heavily in the future development of the region.
The Chinese distinguished themselves with the greatest activity - they managed to build a research base on the island of Spitsbergen and sent their icebreaker from the Antarctic to the North. Now they build a nuclear-powered icebreaker with a displacement of 8000 tons.
South Korea began the construction of its first icebreaker. The Foreign Ministry of Japan established diplomatic working group on Arctic issues.
Almost all countries claiming the Arctic have territorial and other claims to each other. Denmark and Canada are on the verge of a conflict over the disputed island of Hans, which determines the position of the maritime boundary. UK struggles with Denmark, Iceland and Ireland for the continental shelf. Canada has a claim to the United States on the border issue. Iceland disputes the Rockall continental shelf with Denmark and the UK. The United States also claim the Russian territory and make attempts to internationalize the Northern Sea Route. Canada also has not been bypassed by the American territorial claims. And so on.
On the background of the disputes, the opponents gradually increase their military presence in the region. Norway has deployed its operational command of the armed forces in the Arctic near the site of potential conflicts in the area. And it bought 48 Lockheed F-35s to patrol the Arctic Ocean.
Moreover, in Norway near the border with Russia the U.S. built anti-missile radar to track launches of Russian missiles. Canada conducted military maneuvers near the island of Hans and the largest in history military exercises which were of a threatening nature to Russia.
Canada continues to actively pursue activities aimed at the militarization of the Arctic. Sweden hosts the annual exercises of NATO forces. Thousands of soldiers work out their fighting skills in the Far North. The UK provides the exercises with its aircraft carriers and dozens of aircraft. Denmark intends to place a response unit and military command post in the Arctic, strengthens its military presence at Thule airbase in Greenland.
To protect its citizens living in the Arctic mostly representing the indigenous peoples, Russia also has to create its own group of troops.
Escalation of military presence in the Arctic and aggravation of interstate contradictions on the background of territorial disputes may result in armed clashes and conflict of the world scale.
peacekeeper.ru