Washington (AP) — Russia and China on Tuesday rejected a warning from the United States about developing their military and economic cooperation in the Arctic, where the climate is opening up greater competition.
In recent years, Russia has bolstered its military presence in the Arctic by reopening and modernizing several bases and airfields abandoned since the end of the Soviet era, while China has poured money into polar exploration and research.
“We have observed the development of advertising cooperation between the People’s Republic of China and Russia in the Arctic, with the People’s Republic of China being the main financier of the growth of Russian power in the Arctic,” the deputy secretary of state said Monday. Kathleen Hicks Defense to Journalists, an abbreviation for People’s Republic. from China.
Military cooperation is developing, “with Russia and China conducting joint exercises off the coast of Alaska,” Hicks said when the branch released its Arctic 2024 strategy.
“All of those demanding situations have been amplified because the effects of climate change are translating into warmer temperatures and thinning of the ice sheet, which makes all those activities possible,” he said.
The two autocratic countries, which two years ago hinted that they were running together to propose a new “democratic global order,” committed to a joint agreement signed in May, during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s stop in Beijing with his counterpart Xi Jinping. a Read together about the negative effect of the US and NATO strategy in the Asia-Pacific region.
The immediate melting of polar ice has driven activity in this inhospitable region at a dizzying pace, as nations search for viable new deposits of oil, fuel and minerals, as well as shipping routes in a domain with a complex web of territorial claims in competence.
This factor is a growing fear for both Washington and its NATO allies, and specifically for Canada, which has more than 100,000 miles of Arctic coastline. Canada’s Department of Defense recently announced plans to quadruple the length of its submarine fleet with the acquisition of 12 new submarines capable of operating sea ice.
Moscow is selling heavily on its Northern Sea Route, a freight direction chosen by ships traveling between Europe and Asia, which may especially reduce the time spent on southbound directions.
China and Russia on Tuesday defended their policies in the region.
Beijing said it was acting on “the principles of respect, cooperation, mutual benefit and sustainability,” adding that it was “determined for peace and stability” in the region.
“The United States is distorting China’s Arctic policy and making inconsiderate comments about China’s Arctic activities (that are) in accordance with foreign law,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia is “doing everything possible to ensure that the Arctic does not become a territory of discord and tension. “
He told reporters that Russia’s cooperation with China “contributes to an environment of stability and predictability” in the Arctic and that its moves are directed against other countries.
Washington’s Arctic Strategy describes the region as “a strategic region” for the United States, which includes “northern approaches to the homeland” and “a U. S. defense infrastructure. “
He says climate change could see the Arctic enjoy its first “virtually ice-free summer until 2030. “
“Increased human activity will increase the threat of accidents, miscalculations, and environmental degradation,” and U. S. forces “must be fit and equipped to mitigate threats related to potential unforeseen events in the Arctic. “