US officials have warned of increased cooperation between China and Russia in the Arctic.
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This was reported by US Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks.
She noted that the Arctic remains a “strategically important region” as climate change creates new opportunities in terms of shipping routes and resources.
According to Hicks, China is acting as an “important donor for Russian energy developments in the Arctic.” In addition, military cooperation between Russia and China has also intensified, with the countries conducting “joint exercises off the coast of Alaska.”
Beijing has invested about $90 billion in Russian Arctic fuel and mining projects over the past decade, and is working with Moscow to create a “Polar Silk Road,” a new branch of Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road initiative.
Russia and China have agreed to create a joint organization for shipping along the Northern Sea Route. The Russian FSB Border Service and the Chinese Coast Guard have signed a bilateral agreement on maritime shipping in the Arctic. Regular container shipping has started between St. Petersburg and Shanghai.
Hicks’ speech was dedicated to the publication of the Pentagon’s Arctic strategy. The document also calls the region “strategically important” to the United States, as it includes “northern inroads to the country.” In addition, the Arctic is home to a significant portion of the U.S. defense infrastructure.
The US Arctic strategy suggests that by 2030 the Arctic could experience “the first virtually ice-free summer.” This, in turn, should lead to the expansion of Arctic shipping routes and open up access to resources hidden beneath the ice.
Source: Racurs
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.