Interesting piece in Air Forces monthly regarding the Arctic. Essentially the retreating Polar Ice cap is providing an opportunity for exploiting resources. This hasn't been lost on the Russians. The Americans are trying to establish a more visible presence here currently to the extent of simply making sure the Kremlin knows that the USAF and others have a substantial enough reach across the Arctic Circle B-2s and B-52s have been overflying the region just to make their presence felt. AM Gerry Mayhew says we need to "push the message out that we're ready to do anything anywhere".
Evidently the movement of the ice caps recently has opened up new sometime sea lanes. This all adds grist to the Russian endeavours to explore the advantage of mineral excavation in the newly exposed parts of the region. This more specifically means Oil, Gas and Fishing rights inside a 200 NM exclusion zone which Moscow is seeking to impose/defend.
FB