ICEBREAKERS
IN ARCTIC – INTERNATIONAL
News: Explained | Russia’s nuclear icebreakers and militarisation of the Arctic
What's
in the news?
●
Russian President Vladimir Putin virtually
presided over the launch and flag raising ceremony of two nuclear-powered icebreakers at St. Petersburg and said such
icebreakers were of “strategic importance”.
● As climate change opens up the Arctic giving access to new routes and resources, there is a race by adjoining countries to build up their militaries and Russia has a clear lead over them.
Key
takeaways:
●
Speaking at the launch ceremony, Mr. Putin
said both icebreakers were laid down as part of their large-scale, systematic
work to re-equip and replenish the domestic icebreaker fleet, to strengthen Russia’s status as a “great
Arctic power.”
● In the last two decades, Russia has reactivated several Soviet era Arctic military bases and upgraded its capabilities.
Ice
breaking vessels:
●
The 173.3-metre-long ‘Yakutia’, with a displacement of up to 33,540 tonnes, was launched
into water and can break through three metres of ice.
●
The flag was raised on another vessel Ural, which is expected to become
operational in December, while the Yakutia will join service by end-2024.
●
There are two already similar vessels in
service, Arktika and Sibir.
● Mr. Putin said that a much more powerful 209-metre-long nuclear icebreaker “Rossiya,” displacing up to 71,380 tonnes, would be completed by 2027.
Why
are countries racing towards the Arctic?
●
There has been a race among Arctic states
and near-Arctic states to augment their capabilities in a bid to be ready to
capitalize on the melting Arctic.
●
Russian military modernisation in the
Arctic has prompted other Arctic states to join the bandwagon.
●
Unlike
Antarctica, the Arctic is not a global common accentuating the problem.
●
For instance, the North Atlantic Treaty
Organisation (NATO) has been conducting regular exercises in the region while
partner countries are investing in upgrading military capabilities.
● At the same time, China, which calls itself to be a near-Arctic state, has also announced ambitious plans for a ‘polar silk route’ to connect to Europe as well as building massive icebreakers.
Where
does India stand with respect to the Arctic?
●
Since 2007, India has an Arctic research
programme with as many as 13 expeditions
undertaken till date.
●
In
March 2022, India unveiled its first Arctic policy titled: ‘India and the
Arctic: building a partnership for sustainable development’ which lays down six
pillars as follows.
○
Strengthening India’s scientific research
and cooperation
○
Climate and environmental protection
○
Economic and human development
○
Transportation and connectivity
○
Governance and international cooperation
○
National capacity building in the Arctic
region.
● India is also one of the 13 Observers in the Arctic Council, the leading intergovernmental forum promoting cooperation in the Arctic.
As the earth further heats up, which is more profound at the poles, the race for the Arctic is set to accelerate which makes the Arctic the next geopolitical hotspot with all interests converging on it - environmental, economic, political and military.
Go
back to basics:
Arctic
Council:
●
The Arctic Council is an intergovernmental organisation formally
established in 1996 by the Ottawa
Declaration.
● It aims to promote cooperation, coordination and interaction between the Arctic States
Members:
● It consists of eight countries such as Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and United States.
India
and the Arctic Council:
●
India has received the ‘Observer’ country status in the Arctic
Council in 2013 and is one among the 13 countries across the world, including
China, to have that position.
● The status was renewed in 2018.
India’s
Engagement in the Arctic Region:
●
India’s engagement with the Arctic dates
back to 1920 with the signing of the Svalbard
Treaty in Paris.
●
Since July 2008, India has had a permanent
research station in the Arctic called Himadri
at NyAlesund, Svalbard Area in Norway.
●
India has also deployed a multi-sensor
moored(anchored) observatory called IndARC
in the Kongsfjorden fjord since July 2014.
●
The research in the Arctic region from
India is coordinated by the National
Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa. The NCPOR falls under the
Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India.