Norwegian Defense Minister Tore Sandvik said there is a danger that Russia will take control of key areas in the far north of Europe if European countries do not take more decisive steps. According to him, control of Bear Gap would allow Russia to use modern weapons systems more effectively, including hypersonic missiles that could pose a threat to Norway, Denmark and Great Britain.
The Russian Northern Fleet, which has most of Russia’s nuclear naval capabilities, has been intensively expanding its activities in northern waters in recent years. Bear Gap connects the Barents Sea and the Norwegian Sea and is one of the most important passageways through which Russian submarines and warships leave the Arctic bases towards the North Atlantic.
Experts warn that Russia considers this area part of its strategy to protect the so-called “bastion” in the Barents Sea, where submarines with ballistic missiles operate. Control of the passage near Bear Island would allow Moscow better surveillance of that area and safer operations of its nuclear forces.
The importance of the Arctic is growing further due to climate change and the opening of new maritime routes, as well as large reserves of oil, gas and other natural resources. That area is becoming an increasingly important field of geopolitical competition between Russia, NATO, the US and China.
Although Norway has full sovereignty over Svalbard, according to the 1920 Svalbard Agreement the archipelago cannot be militarized, which is why there is no permanent military presence there. Analysts believe that a direct Russian attack on Svalbard is unlikely, but warn of the possibility of increased hybrid activities such as sabotage, pressure and intelligence operations.
Meanwhile, European countries are considering strengthening security cooperation, including talks about the role of the French nuclear deterrent in protecting Europe. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has announced that Oslo will participate in those consultations, citing Russian armaments and the war in Ukraine as the main reasons.
According to expert organizations, Russia has the largest nuclear arsenal in the world, with around 4,400 deployed and stored warheads, while the US has approximately 3,700. Russia has recently held large-scale military exercises focusing on nuclear readiness, while President Vladimir Putin has stressed that the use of nuclear weapons would be a last resort.
British Defense Minister John Healey warned that Russia today represents the biggest threat to the security of the Arctic since the end of the Cold War. This is why Great Britain is increasing its military presence in Norway and intensifying joint NATO exercises in the region.
(Vijesti.ba)
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