溶緊北極的軍事化

爭奪北極控制權可以引起很大危機或國際糾紛。

在溶緊北極的軍事化
Militarization in a Melting Arctic
Topic started on 28-11-2009 @ 06:40 AM by masqua

The fervor with which many who claim that the arctic is cooling down is matched by the intensity of preparations, by superpowers and other countries to provide military clout over a neglected area of the world.

The Northwest Passage, when it becomes a standard shipping route for global trade, will alter everything... ports, canals, etc.

Here is what America is planning:

An “Arctic roadmap” by the Department of the Navy details a five-year strategic plan to expand fleet operations into the North in anticipation that the frozen Arctic Ocean will be open water in summer by 2030.

[...]

“This opening of the Arctic may lead to increased resource development, research, tourism, and could reshape the global transportation system. These developments offer opportunities for growth, but also are potential sources of competition and conflict for access and natural resources,” says the 33-page document, signed by Admiral Jonathan W. Greenert, vice-chief of Naval Operations.

[...]

the U.S., in addition to the planned naval re-armament, is to station 36 F-22 Raptor stealth fighter jets — 20 per cent of its F-22 fleet and what many consider the best overall fighter jet in the world — in Anchorage, Alaska.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com.../

Canada's tentative response:

The Harper government has announced over the last several years the creation of a military training centre in the Arctic, economic aid to the region, as well as the construction of a new port, an icebreaker and a fleet of Arctic patrol ships. Work is under way on the various projects, but in many cases it will take years before they are ready.

Two other concerned nations with territory in the north:

The Norwegians and Danes, by comparison, have spent the last 15 years re-arming with a very combat-capable and Arctic-capable navy and air force, he said. The Norwegians recently spent $7 billion on the most expensive class of ships that they’ve ever built. The five frigates are designed for high-Arctic operations with an air superiority capability and state-of-the-art U.S. Ageis combat systems.

And. China:

Even the Chinese, he said, are building two to three new ice breakers that will give them an icebreaking fleet larger than the Americans and, “pretty well … larger than ours.”

No mention of what Russia plans in this article, but you can bet they'll have dogs in this fight. After all, they planted a flag on the sea bottom, claiming a large chunk as their own.

What does all this mean?

It means that governments are taking a melting ice cap in the arctic seriously... regardless of the controversy about global warming.

http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread522641/pg1