The struggle for the Arctic is taking on sharper, literally filibuster forms. The reason for the detention of the Russian fishing vessel Borey at the beginning of April was just a suspicion that he violated the “Norwegian rules” of fishing in the “fish protection zone” of the Spitsbergen archipelago. The short arrest of the trawler had no consequences. After a routine check, the ship was released. Simply put, detained for no reason. They wanted to show who was the boss in the house.
This “fish protection zone” is, among other things, a stumbling block. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova calls her “so-called,” making it clear that Russia does not recognize Oslo’s autonomous right to establish certain rules of its own over a territory whose legal status is governed by an international treaty of 1920. In addition, our Foreign Ministry sent a note, where he expressed concern about what was happening. Unfortunately, this has not yet had an effect.
The correspondence of diplomats from Russia and Norway has long been reminiscent of ping pong. We point out the illegitimacy of the claims of the Norwegians, who in response to the north indifferently repeat that they are well aware of the opinion of the Russian Federation. And they continue to operate in the logic of their own jurisdiction over the archipelago. Prior to the incident with the trawler, restrictions were imposed on Russian helicopters, a procedure for deportation from the city of Longyearbyen against the Russians and the exclusion of our companies when distributing licenses for the development of oil and gas resources on the shelf.
One gets the impression that Norway is trying to gradually oust Russia from Spitsbergen and de facto turn it into its controlled territory. Obviously, hoping to consolidate this later and de jure. Alas, international treaties always enshrine the correlation of forces that is in force at one time or another, and if it changes, changing or withdrawing from the contract is a matter of time. Russia is now far from weak, but was weak in the 1990s. They themselves are to blame - they led the Norwegians into temptation. And now they cannot stop.
Have to slow them down. After all, for Russians, Svalbard is Grumant. The archipelago, where our Pomors went from time immemorial. The merits of our compatriots in its development are great and indisputable.
Only we and the Norwegians - the northern nations - were entrenched on the islands. Other parties to the agreement gradually retreated into their warmer waters.
True, leaving the archipelago, the British, Americans, Germans and even the Spanish Basques (!) Did not calm down. And now they are trying to be present in a new form by issuing carte blanche to Norway as a member of the political pool of Western states that have common interests. Oslo bites Russia on Svalbard both on its own behalf and as a member of NATO, of course. With the club of the alliance behind them, the Norwegians feel bolder.
Hence the rhetoric of their Ministry of Defense, which in its long-term strategy called Moscow the number one threat.
This document is still at the formation stage and has not been adopted by the Norwegian parliament, but its substantial part cannot but arouse interest. Technical re-equipment in the Northern Fleet, including equipping ships with cruise missiles, “poses an increased threat to NATO operations in the Norwegian Sea, submarine Internet cables and maritime communications lines,” the authors of the strategy write. What is interesting about this? What the Norwegians are developing the strategy of experts from the American research center Rand Corporation. Of the same.
The latter circumstance, apparently, explains the astounding fact that after Russia in the list of threats to Norway appears ... China. Beijing is blamed on “power and ambition,” including in connection with Svalbard. Well, yes, China has become a global factory and is ready to supply Europe with its goods through the Russian-controlled Northern Sea Route. And what is the threat? After all, China is a full member of the archipelago treaty. The only explanation is that it annoys the Yankees, who now consider China to be their competitor, and therefore deserve to be defeated.
Well, the general aggravation of competition in the struggle for Arctic resources makes itself felt. Any strengthening of Russia's position is perceived painfully. And Moscow managed to get ahead of many, if not all. And on the legal front - in time by submitting an application to the United Nations on the continental shelf, and in terms of military presence - by opening the Arctic Shamrock base on Franz Josef Land. In combination with the indomitable Russian character, so necessary in the development of the Arctic, the reserve is good. Some people in Oslo should think about.
In the meantime, the parties are gathering strength, our scientists are wintering on Svalbard-Grumant. The scanty information about their measured life, about scientific experiments reminds us of the good old Soviet period of our history, inspires peace and confidence. At a temperature of -14 ° C, these strong people observe “aerosols of surface air”, conduct oceanological and geophysical studies and monitor the state of permafrost. And somewhere in Russia, on the mainland, their loved ones are waiting. "Chuck and Huck", and more!
However, modernity also breaks into Spitsbergen. So, recently, we learned from specialized media, in Barentsburg, the capital of the Russian part of the archipelago, a meeting of the village headquarters to prevent the spread of coronavirus was held. No cases of disease on the archipelago have been recorded. In these conditions, the infection simply does not survive. Fershteyn, Norwegians?
The author’s point of view may not coincide with the position of the publisher.