The Russians have recently gone out of their way to make it clear that they intend to take a more assertive military stance in the Arctic.
The Russian Air Force has reminded everyone that, since last summer, it's been more active in the Arctic: Russian strategic bombers complete 20-hour patrol over Arctic (Novosti, June 10, 2008). Meanwhile the Russian Navy has announced its plans to expand its presence in the Atlantic, Pacific, and - especially - the Arctic: Russian Navy to expand presence in Arctic, Atlantic, Pacific (Novosti, June 10, 2008):
The general said that Russia may shift the focus of its military strategy toward the northern latitudes in order to protect its national interests in the Arctic, especially on its continental shelf, which may contain large deposits of oil and natural gas.
"We have a number of highly-professional military units in the Leningrad, Siberian and Far Eastern military districts, which are specifically trained for combat in Arctic regions," Shamanov said.
Adrian Blomfield in Moscow places these announcements in context for the U.K.'s Telegraph and reports that Russia plans Arctic military build-up (June 11, 2006). Randy Boswell also reports on the stories from Russia for CanWest: Russia to increase its Arctic military presence (June 11, 2008).
Title with apologies to the author of the satiric bumper sticker distributed several election cycles after Nixon had resigned, "President Nixon: Tanned, Ready and Rested."
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