Russian expert on geopolitics, Konstantin Sivkov, said that Russia must protect its borders in the Arctic region because of potential missile attacks launched from the Arctic, writes RIA Novosti.
He also added that the only aerial route from which Russia is vulnerable is from the Arctic, because of the flying range. Cruise missiles have limited flying range, which means that attacks against Russia wouldn’t be effective from other regions.
In December 2013, Russian president Vladimir Putin sent the military to bolster the presence in the Arctic region and they have already started construction of an early missile warning radar there.
The Arctic territories have been under dispute between the US, Russia, Canada and Norway due to assumptions that there are untapped oil and gas reserves.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, January 23, 2014; Image: Wikimedia