How Greenland Gives the U.S. New Leverage Over Russia’s Arctic Energy Strategy

Its position at the top of the North Atlantic gives the U.S. and its allies control over the Greenland–Iceland–U.K.’ (GIUK) Gap, the narrow maritime corridor through which Russia’s Northern Fleet must pass to reach the Atlantic. In broad terms, Russia’s Arctic sector holds an estimated 35.7 trillion cubic metres (Tcm) of gas and over 2.3 billion metric tons of oil and condensate, most of it concentrated in the Yamal and Gydan peninsulas on the southern edge of the Kara Sea, as analysed in my latest book. Reinforcing Putin’s vision of Russia as the dominant Arctic power was the recent ratification of the ‘Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Support’ (RELOS) pact, a deal that quietly extends India’s and Russia’s military cooperation into Russia’s Arctic ports and the NSR.

Author: Simon Watkins

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