According to information from The Wall Street Journal, while Donald Trump focuses on Greenland, Russia and China are actively expanding their presence in the Arctic, including on the Svalbard archipelago, which is part of Norway.
A polar bear sleeps on the ice near Svalbard. Photo: Nima Sarikhani (UK)
Under a treaty signed in 1920, many countries, including Russia, China, and the USA, have access to Svalbard provided its territory is not used for military purposes. However, as the publication notes, this region is becoming increasingly strategically important: it lies on the shortest route for potential Russian missiles towards the USA and is rich in natural resources.
The USA and Norway express concern about the activities of Chinese entities in the archipelago, which are seen as potential centers for military-related research. Increased control is also reported: the university in Svalbard has restricted access for Chinese students after a risk assessment by intelligence agencies.
In Russia, statements are made questioning Norway's sovereignty over the archipelago, and some politicians propose discussing the division of Arctic territories. Russian military representatives claim that the region has great strategic importance and requires increased military presence.
In response, Norway has increased patrolling, tightened security rules, and is considering the possibility of exploring the seabed for valuable resource deposits. Experts note that the remoteness of the Svalbard territory makes it vulnerable, as infrastructure, transport, and communications could be disrupted.
Analysts believe that in the event of a widespread conflict between NATO and Russia, the archipelago could become one of the first targets in the Arctic, although such a scenario is not currently considered the most likely.
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