October 15, 2019

Serbian journalist Zoran Milosevic thinks that the purpose of the new “Northern Expansion Doctrine” of the USA is an attempt to deprive Russia of its rights to the Northern Sea Route (NSR). Milosevic expressed his views in his article in the “Pechat” publication. It is noted that In May meetings with the representatives of the countries, who have common borders with the Arctic, the USA made it clear to Canada that it should forget about its own “right to the north-western Arctic corridor.” The American side demanded from China to close its stations in Iceland and Norway, also stop investing into the infrastructure of the Russian Northern Sea Route. The American authorities think that in its turn, Russia must withdraw its troops from its Arctic regions. According to the author of the paper, the United States stand for making the NSR a common route, and not exclusively belonging to Russia.

Milosevic explains that the USA see the Northern Sea Route as a means of pressure to Russia, due to the fact that for Russia – it is both: an international logistics corridor and an internal transport artery.

 There was news in March that Pentagon had had to make changes in its tactics of expansion of forces in the Arctic. Curtis Scaparrotti, the USA and NATO Commander of the European Command announced that it was the way the military authority reacted to increase by Russia of its military potential in the region. The General explained that Washington is interested in the resource and commercial potential of the Northern Sea Route that runs along the Russian borders; but, Moscow placed its radar and defence systems, and built additional aerodromes.

In February, Admiral James Foggo, the Commander-in-Chief of the USA Naval Forces Europe and Naval Forces Africa announced that the USA would not allow Russia and China dominate in the Arctic for the “Northern Sea Route – is not somebody’s lake.”

The Northern Sea Route is the main Arctic navigation route of Russia that connects the Arctic ports and large rivers of the Northern region; it is the shortest route between the Far East and the European parts of the country. The legislation of Russia has defined it as “the historically established national integrated uniform transport communication of Russia in the Arctic.”

Source:

http://www.pecat.co.rs/2019/10/arktik-i-nova-severna-doktrina-sad/

https://lenta.ru/news/2019/10/15/sever/

Translated by Muhiddin Ganiev