Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Future war: Russia vs Canada vs Denmark

Don't laugh; Russia, Canada, and Denmark are all moving to claim big portions of the Arctic Ocean -- including the North Pole -- for future oil exploration and recovery as global warming melts the permanent sea ice in the frozen north.

An underwater feature called the Lomonosov Ridge extends from Russia's New Siberian Islands, across the North Pole and to Canada's Ellesmere Island. Denmark is working to prove that this oceanic ridge is actually an extension of Greenland. Each nation claims that the ridge is an extension of its continental shelf. According to the UN Convention on Law of the Sea, a nation has exclusive rights to the resources that lie on the continental shelf that extends from the nation.

Russia is sending an expedition to the North Pole to send a minisub to plant a flag on the ridge and backs it claim for ownership of the ridge.

Canada, in response, ordered C$7 billion in new military equipment and facilities to assert Canada's claim on Arctic resources. "The ongoing discovery of the north's resource riches, coupled with the potential impact of climate change, has made the region a growing area of interest and concern," said Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. "Canada has a choice when it comes to defending our sovereignty over the Arctic. We either use it or lose it. And make no mistake, this government intends to use it."

Denmark, in the meantime, is working with the Canadians to prove that the Lomonosov Ridge is an extension of Greenland (a Danish territory) and Ellesmere Island. The Danes are hopeful that international cooperation and treaties will prevail.

Canada's new Arctic warships won't be ready until 2012. With renewing belligerence between Russia, Western Europe, and the United States, how long will it be before Canada and Denmark request American assistance in asserting their claims to Arctic mineral resources? Is continued easy motoring really worth going up against a nuclear power?

More: If you think this article is worthwhile, please remember to click the Digg button below.

1 comment:

  1. hate Russia or whatever but facts are :its a former super power (u wouldn't punch mike Tyson today would you?)

    Russia possesses the largest stockpile of nuclear weapons in the world

    *active troops = 1,037,000
    *reserve = 2,400,000
    *paramilitary = 359,100
    *tanks = 28,381
    *air craft carrier= 1
    *warships = 110
    *nuclear warheads= 16,800
    *aircraft = 2800
    *nuclear submarines= 35
    *conventional subs = 18




    canada

    *active troops =62 ooo
    *reserve =25 000
    *tanks = 166
    *warships = 15
    *submarine =4
    *aircraft = 138
    *nuclear arms ="NATO shared"

    and since any armed conflict will likely start on ice !


    *Russia is the ONLY country in the world that has atomic icebreakers, and it is unlikely that icebreakers may appear in some other country soon!


    *only Russia ,USA,japan,Britten have "Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle" essential for an arctic war.
    (subs with ability to dive thousands of feet below water )

    seems Canada hasn't invested well in its military even though it has a large area to protect thus has to rely on NATO every time questions of it sovereignty comes .lets all hope and pray its resolved peacefully

    ReplyDelete