Russian and NATO Future Strategy in the Arctic. The Arctic Security Dilemma; A Russian Escalation without a NATO Counter-Strategy

Abstract

A research of the current NATO strategy and capabilities to evaluate if they are adapted to the future Arctic challenges. Three different scenarios, with Russia as the main adversary, are discussed. Russia approaches the future of the Arctic with a clearly defined, robust, and flexible strategy, and has already started the operationalization by investing money, resources, and conducting a military buildup in the region. On the other hand, NATO has also a flexible strategy; however, the operationalization seems more like an adaption of each member's strategy than making a NATO concept. In conclusion, Russia has seized the initiative for the future in the Arctic, with a strategy and investments to facilitate for all possible scenarios from peace to war. NATO continues to focus equally on all global regions of interest, and is struggling to clarify and operationalize a NATO Arctic strategy against Russia. As a result, NATO could in the future be limited to only administrate the deployment of the different countries' military capability at hand, rather than act as a unified super-power that commands a tailored and well prepared cold-weather military force of a powerful alliance.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 02, 2016
Accession Number
AD1178769

Entities

People

  • John O. Fuglem

Organizations

  • Marine Corps University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Human Systems
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Agreements
  • Air Force
  • Climate Change
  • Coast Guard
  • Intergovernmental Organizations
  • International Law
  • International Organizations
  • International Relations
  • Military Capabilities
  • National Politics
  • National Security
  • Nato
  • Terrain
  • Treaties
  • United States
  • United States Northern Command
  • United States Pacific Command
  • Warfare

Fields of Study

  • Political science

Readers

  • International Relations and European Studies
  • Polar and Arctic Studies
  • Strategic Security Studies