WW3 Watch: Russia's military, energy plans for the Arctic

Few people have heard of the tiny island of Vargo, Norway, but it's the location of a vitally important radar installation operated jointly by the U.S. and the host nation. Its purpose is to keep a watchful eye on activity near Russia’s Kola Peninsula, where a fleet of nuclear-armed submarines operate as part of Moscow’s effort to beef up its Arctic military presence.

Norway responded to an increase in Russian activity in the region by developing highly sophisticated intelligence-gathering ships including the Marjata IV, which have been described as “the most sophisticated…in the world.”

Analyst Comment: Two things are occurring: Russia's investing major military resources to bolster its Arctic presence, and NATO countries are simultaneously investing in capabilities aimed at countering Moscow. At stake is untold billions of dollars’ worth of untapped energy. The U.S. Geological Survey believes 13 percent of the world’s undiscovered oil and 30 percent of its untapped natural gas may lie buried in the Arctic. Melting ice in some parts is expected to make drilling — and shipping — that oil and gas much easier. As one report noted, "Russia is trying to claim 460,000 square miles of the Arctic Ocean as its national territory — an area that includes the North Pole. Russian divers even planted a national flag on the North Pole seabed in a symbolic claim to the region’s energy riches.” Given the Pentagon's recent focus on planning for the military defense of the Arctic (it's now preparing a military estimate for the region), there will be a third front in the potential NATO-Russia conflict.