Energy is Power but dangerous too!
Russia raises prospect of war over Arctic energy reserves
Tony Halpin, Moscow | May 15, 2009
Article from: The Australian
RUSSIA has raised the prospect of war in the Arctic as nations struggle for control of the world's dwindling energy reserves. The country's new national security strategy yesterday identified the intensifying battle for ownership of vast untapped oil and gasfields around its borders as a source of potential military conflict within a decade.
"The presence and potential escalation of armed conflicts near Russia's national borders, pending border agreements between Russia and several neighbouring nations, are the major threats to Russia's interests and border security," said the strategy document, which analysed security threats up to 2020.
"In a competition for resources it cannot be ruled out that military force could be used to resolve emerging problems that would destroy the balance of forces near the borders of Russia and her allies."
The Kremlin has insisted it is not "militarising the Arctic", but its warnings of armed conflict suggest it is willing to defend its interests by force if necessary as global warming makes exploitation of the region's energy riches more feasible.
The US, Norway, Canada and Denmark are challenging Russia's claim to a section of the Arctic shelf, the size of Western Europe, which is believed to contain billions of tonnes of oil and gas. An earlier Kremlin document declared the Arctic a strategic resource for Russia and said development of its energy reserves by 2020 was a vital national objective.
It set out plans to establish army bases along the Arctic frontier to "guarantee military security in different military-political situations".
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25482047-26040,00.html
