Vladimir Putin Stakes Arctic Claim With Russian Flag Planting

Unlike most of the globe, the Arctic is an area of international neutrality. No single nation claims ownership over the Arctic; it is instead allocated among eight Arctic nations: Canada, Denmark (via Greenland), Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, the US (via Alaska), and Russia, with rights to land or waters extending 200 nautical miles from their shores.

The territory beyond these Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs), including the North Pole, is considered international waters, accessible to all for navigation.

Importantly, much of the seabed in the central Arctic Ocean is under the scrutiny of international law and competing claims, especially in relation to oil, gas, and mineral resources.

Nevertheless, climate change has ignited increased activity in the isolated region, with governance suddenly uncertain due to the marginalisation of Russia over its conflict in Ukraine.

This dispute risks overturning the previously low-conflict environment that has prevailed since the Cold War ended.

Russia's recent strategy for the Arctic, detailed in its Arctic Strategy to 2035, emphasises aggressive economic expansion, like the Northern Sea Route, a notable military buildup, and strengthening federal authority.

Vladimir Putin is swiftly enhancing his military presence there, reopening Cold War-era bases, increasing troop deployments, and reinforcing air defences to counter supposed NATO threats and safeguard his domain.

This isn't Moscow's first controversy in the Arctic. On August 2, 2007, a Russian mission, Arktika 2007, accomplished the inaugural manned descent to the ocean floor beneath the North Pole. Six adventurers, under Artur Chilingarov, utilised MIR submersibles.

Besides depositing a titanium capsule containing the Russian flag, the team acquired samples of Arctic vegetation and animals and reportedly captured footage of the dives.

The "North-Pole-35" (NP-35), a crewed drifting ice platform, was also set up.

This endeavour was part of the government's objective to claim close to half of the Arctic seabed, asserting the Lomonosov Ridge is an extension of Russia’s continental shelf and, thus, Russian territory.

Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, dismissed criticism, asserting that Russia’s claims were valid and, with time, could be verified: “The purpose of this mission is not to assert Russia’s rights, but to demonstrate that our continental shelf extends to the North Pole," he stated. “There are specific scientific means for this.”

Putin personally called the mission participants to extend his gratitude, underscoring the move’s importance.

Later, in January 2008, three members of the mission, including Chilingarov, were honoured with the title Hero of the Russian Federation "for their bravery and heroism exhibited under extreme conditions and for the successful fulfilment of the High-Latitude Arctic Deep-Water Expedition".

This manoeuvre faced backlash from other countries. Former Canadian Foreign Minister Peter MacKay remarked, “This isn’t the 15th century. You can’t travel across the world, plant flags, and declare ‘This territory is ours’.”

On the other hand, former US Department of State spokesman, Tom Casey, commented that planting the flag "doesn't hold any legal weight or affect the claim."

In 2018, 14 Russian sailors perished in a blaze on a nuclear submarine during a covert mission beneath the North Pole.

It was later revealed that the nuclear-powered AS-12 sub, known as Losharik, was leading Putin’s efforts to claim and extract fossil fuels and valuable minerals from under the Arctic ice.

More recently, last October, Norway’s Defence Minister, Tore Sandvik, acknowledged noteworthy weapons development on Russia’s Kola Peninsula.

This region hosts Russia’s Northern Fleet and part of the Kremlin’s nuclear stockpile. Mr Sandvik also cautioned that Putin seeks complete naval dominance over the Arctic area, which would facilitate cutting off NATO’s access to key maritime routes necessary for resupplying Western troops in conflicts.