Satellite images show huge Russian military buildup in the Arctic

[orangecrush]

Source: CNN


(CNN)Russia is amassing unprecedented military might in the Arctic and testing its newest weapons in a region freshly ice-free due to the climate emergency, in a bid to secure its northern coast and open up a key shipping route from Asia to Europe.

Weapons experts and Western officials have expressed particular concern about one Russian 'super-weapon,' the Poseidon 2M39 torpedo. Development of the torpedo is moving fast with Russian President Vladimir Putin requesting an update on a "key stage" of the tests in February from his defense minister Sergei Shoigu, with further tests planned this year, according to multiple reports in state media.
Images show build up of Russia's military presence in the Arctic


Images show build up of Russia's military presence in the Arctic 04:15
This unmanned stealth torpedo is powered by a nuclear reactor and intended by Russian designers to sneak past coastal defenses -- like those of the US -- on the sea floor.

The device is intended to deliver a warhead of multiple megatons, according to Russian officials, causing radioactive waves that would render swathes of the target coastline uninhabitable for decades.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/05/europe/russia-arctic-nato-military-intl-cmd/index.html

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Radioactive waves.

How nice.

[wnylib]

1. As the Arctic ice melts, opening up large areas of ocean,

we need some international agreements on use and territory. Something for the UN to take up, or a special conference of world leaders.

[TomWilm]

4. That is basically what The Arctic Council is for

The Arctic Council
https://arctic-council.org/en/about/

- though US has not been very helpful with keeping the tensions down in the Council
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-finland-arctic-council-idUSKCN1SB0S8

- there might be hope for some changes there
https://www.highnorthnews.com/en/biden-versus-trump-how-new-president-will-affect-arctic

[ancianita]

13. Yes.

One "rule" I've read about territorial claims on the Arctic is that claims are predicated on the nations that have the most land mass combined with populations living in the Arctic Circle.

Russia competes with Canada for shore line but has more population there than any other nation at 2 million.

[FailureToCommunicate]

17. Yes, and unfortunately Russia takes over leadership this year (of a rotating schedule), so...

we'll just have to wait and see if that bodes ill, for creeping control of that region.

[wnylib]

23. Thanks. I wasn't aware of their scope

and limitations. One article says there are no security provisions and another mentions US and Russian military presence. Since this could become a matter of world peace, I wonder if it would be good to involve more nations besides those with Arctic lands, or if that would only make matters more competitive.

[bronxiteforever]

8. +1 Nat Geo new Cold War unfolding at the top of the world

Great article
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/new-cold-war-brews-as-arctic-ice-melts

[Voltaire2]

2. Russian military budget less than 10% of US budget.

Also we are busy building and testing new weapons systems. I guess ours aren’t scary.

[orangecrush]

3. Fuck Russia.

[oldsoftie]

5. As a % of GDP, Russia's spending is still higher than the US. The only TRUE way to compare.

And thats just what they admit. Just like China.

[Voltaire2]

28. Sure the only true way if you want to

avoid the obvious.

[oldsoftie]

32. Its the only true way if you want to be ACCURATE and not try to push a narrative.

A dollar in Russia has far more value than a dollar here. If you want to make an honest point you have to use valid metrics. Merely comparing dollars is disingenuous because the value in the 2 countries is not nearly the same.

[Mysterian]

35. Not the only true way to compare

That's a somewhat ridiculous statement.

[oldsoftie]

36. Purchasing power varies from country to country.

% of GDP is the best most accurate way to level that difference. Not to mention countries like Russia & especially China are hardly reporting real, accurate figures.

[ClusterFreak]

7. Yes, thank you for your comments...

I get particularly tired of MSM news reports which ring alarm bells about Russian, or Chinese, or North Korean military might for example. This is not to diminish the notion that these countries are always going to be a military threat, but these reports need to be balanced against the reality of what the United States military arsenal has to offer them, should they attempt anything foolish. The U.S. defense budget absolutely dwarfs these countries individually and collectively. Let's never forget that.

And yes, I'm guessing we've got some pretty scary shit to hit them with if push ever came to shove.

[Voltaire2]

29. Indeed, and invariably I'll get attacked

as I have in this thread. Russia in particular is up to no good in Eastern Europe and especially Ukraine. I’m not minimizing that.

However we right now are the premier bad actors on the planet, messing with nations all over the world, conducting attacks, assassinations, crushing embargoes, anywhere we see fit.

[Historic NY]

19. Maybe but they are revamping old facilities...

and adding to them. They don't have all the BS attached to building like here, unions, codes, etc.

[Harker]

6. We must not allow a mineshaft gap! n/t

[MichaelSoE]

10. Truer words have never been spoken

[Turbineguy]

12. We'll

fry their chickens on the barnyard!

[Harker]

14. They're gettin' ready to clobber us! n/t

[Turbineguy]

20. There will be

no fighting in the war room!

[Harker]

24. I'm not saying we wouldn't get our hair mussed... n/t

[Blues Heron]

9. Somebody please tell CNN the cold war is over?

Who writes this crap - Tom Clancy? FFS radioactive waves lol

More like waves of radioactive BS

[LudwigPastorius]

30. The Cold War is over?

Well, you may not consider recurrently subverting our elections, conducting massive psyops and misinformation on American citizens, and foisting a "leader" like Donald Trump on us, acts of war, but I do.

[Blues Heron]

31. Yeah it's over

It ended a while back. But it’s big business for the warfuckers, so we get scaremongering like this article. Radioactive waves! Run!

[McKim]

11. Yes!!!! The Cold War is Over!!!!

The Cold War is over but they just have to have enemies, keeps the MIC afloat. Is fear of others the only thing that unites America?

[EX500rider]

33. Actually no, Putin has a done a great job restarting the Cold War nt

[oldsoftie]

37. Not on THIS thread.

[llashram]

15. slowly inching

we are...in spite of being Putin's weak, compromised Amerikan lap dog, Putin did not respect trump or the military and civilian might he wielded. I know my POTUS is watching. So...on with every day. A wake-up is all we get. After that is anyone's guess.

[mn9driver]

16. Russia has very few ice-free ports.

That’s one reason they annexed Crimea, and why they hang onto Kaliningrad. Arctic ice loss is part of Putin’s long game to open up more useable coastline and access to open ocean.

One of the very first things Trump did when he took office was to pull the US out of the Paris climate accords. That wasn’t a coincidence; it was what Putin wanted.

One of the very first things that Biden did when he took office was to announce that the US was back to supporting the agreement. Also not a coincidence. Vladimir believes Russia will prosper in a warmer world. You can bet that he is doing everything he can to make that happen.

[orangecrush]

18. Excellent, well thought out post.

Thank you.

[Lulu KC]

25. +1 n/t

[lookyhereyou]

26. not to mention the dependence on oil

of his economy.

[Percy]

21. From the same article:

"The Russian build-up has been matched by NATO and US troop and equipment movements. American B-1 Lancer bombers stationed in Norway's Ørland air base have recently completed missions in the eastern Barents Sea, for example. The US military's stealth Seawolf submarine was acknowledged by US officials in August as being in the area."

It would be so pathetic if we got into a war with another nuclear power over shipping lanes. Let's not forget before we start rallying, that money, profit and power is what's driving the militarization.

The forces pushing this are mulit-national corporations. There is no second "cold war" as the Russians and everyone else share the same ideology now, capitalism!

Tired of being a pawn in their bs money game.

[melm00se]

22. If the USA did this,

people here would be up in arms.

Because it is another country, folks are here up in arms because it is the USA's fault for defense spending.

[oldsoftie]

38. Thank you. Justification gymnastics here are amazing.

[IronLionZion]

27. Russia loves climate change

it opens up lots of opportunities and sea routes for them

[orangecrush]

34. Yup