Interfax: Margelov: Russia needs sufficient potential to defend its geopolitical interests in Arctic

MOSCOW. Dec 6 (Interfax) – Russia must be prepared to confront international rivalry in the Arctic, which is a priority of its geopolitical agenda, Federation Council International Affairs Committee Chairman Mikhail Margelov told Interfax.

“This is a topical agenda considering the expected effects of global warming on the Arctic zone. It is necessary to maintain the combat potential of the troops stationed in that region: certainly, there will be no military conflict but this is important for potential legal, geopolitical and geo-economic rivalries for which our country must be prepared,” Margelov said.

Much is being said about the continuity of Russia’s history, so, there is an essential practical element that sends us back to the Soviet experience of the development of the distant areas of Siberia and the Arctic, he continued.
“We should not wholly rely on this experience, yet the organizational model may be of use if its strictly administrative content is replaced by a public-private [partnership] open for the world. Strict organization is the only way to handle the comprehensive task of the new stage of Arctic development,” Margelov stated.

It must be remembered that, according to the mentality of certain Western politicians, natural resources must not belong to concrete states but be shared by all of humanity, he added.

“However, they apply double standards to this thesis. The belonging of parts of the Arctic shelf concerns Western countries, which seek to develop the resources on their own rather than transfer them to international control,” the Russian parliamentarian said.

As to the United States, its regional policy still follows the directive issued by George W. Bush, who declared the fundamental interests of the United States in the Arctic and suggested measures to protect those interests, he said.

“The measures include the Navy, the Air Force, missile defense, nuclear deterrence and a maritime presence. Hence, there is a need to maintain the appropriate level of combat potential of the Russian forces deployed in that region,” Margelov concluded.