The Russian – American Competition Strategy in the Arctic

Abstract

The environmental changes in the Arctic region, such as those associated with climate changes, contributed to the emergence of a group of political, economic and military developments that resulted in a strategic competition between major countries, especially Russia and the United States of America, for control of the region through unprecedented moves, the most prominent of which was the militarization of the region and competition for the acquisition of new lands.  In the Arctic region, therefore, the descriptive analytical method was used to show the importance of the region because of its geostrategic elements in terms of the importance of the geographical location, which will contribute to the existence of new sea passages for navigation and international trade between the Far East, Western Europe, and East America in order to avoid the Suez Canal route.  The natural resources stored inside the seabed, and the force analysis approach was also adopted to clarify the possibility of competitors in the region, especially after the military presence by Moscow and Washington, as well as the emergence of international alliances, which in turn may lead the region to environmental, political and military risks and future conflicts.