Putin's course on militarizing the Arctic

Posted Wednesday, 25 Dec 2013 by Pavel K. Baev

My last publication of the year 2013 has appeared in The New Times (in Russian), and it examines the rationale for Putin’s course on militarizing the Arctic, while proclaiming commitment to peace and cooperation. The text has suffered from severe cuts, but for once I have no complaints – they have to make room in the issue for the breaking news about Mikhail Khodorkovsky going free.

Related comments

Comment

Thursday, 3 Apr 2025

Russian President Vladimir Putin at the polar camp at Alexandra Land Island, Franz Joseph Land in Acrtic Russia in 2017. Photo: Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images.

Putin’s Warpath Goes Through Arctic

Russia’s war against Ukraine is stuck in a rigid deadlock. The prospect of agreeing on a ceasefire, which had appeared within reach a couple of weeks ago, has, however, become distant and blurred.

Arctic Politics and Russia's Ambitions

Wednesday, 30 Oct 2019

The monument to the Soviet Soldier in Kirkenes.

Confronting and engaging Russia in the Arctic takes resolve and patience

The celebration of the anniversary of liberation of Kirkenes by a Russian operation (called the “Tenth Stalin’s shock”) was properly solemn and impeccably good-neighborly, even if Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov found it necessary to voice criticism of Norwegian policy. Russia also found it opportune to stage a large-scale exercise ...

Arctic Politics and Russia's Ambitions

Tuesday, 16 Apr 2019

Putin talks the Arctic talk and fingers the missile stick

The fifth Russia-sponsored international forum “The Arctic – Territory of Dialogue” was staged last week in St. Petersburg, and President Vladimir Putin used the occasion to demonstrate his particular interest to the Arctic matters. He was joined on the panel by prime ministers of four North European states – Finland, ...

Arctic Politics and Russia's Ambitions

Thursday, 8 Mar 2018

Failed test of the Bulava missile in 2013. Picture from the Barents Observer.

Putin's virtual missiles create real risks

Surprise is a political technique Russia’s President Vladimir Putin excels at, and he did not miss the occasion to spring big surprises during his annual address to the parliament, on 1 March. The first half of the speech contained a rich menu of economic and social promises, but Putin’s delivery was ...

Posted by

Pavel K. Baev

Part of the series

Arctic Politics and Russia's Ambitions

All tags

Arctic Politics and Russia's Ambitions

An error has occurred. This application may no longer respond until reloaded. An unhandled exception has occurred. See browser dev tools for details. Reload 🗙