Observing Russian Naval Activity in the North

We thought this article was interesting, because rarely does the Russian media report on Russian Naval activity for the sole purpose of showcasing Russia's infringement on another nations economic exclusion zone, but that is exactly what this article does. From RIA Novosti.

The Russian Navy has resumed a military presence around the Arctic Ocean archipelago of Spitsbergen, which belongs to Norway, a navy statement said on Monday.

"Russia's fleet has resumed a warship presence in the Arctic, including in the area of Spitsbergen," the statement said.

Russia does not recognize Norway's exclusive right to the 200-mile economic zone near Spitsbergen.

Russia had previously had the Udaloy class destroyer Severomorsk (DDG 619) in the region, and his additionally dispatched the Slava class cruiser Marshal Ustinov (CG 055). The article goes on to discuss the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which Russia signed in 1987, noting that a coastal nation has control of all economic resources within its exclusive economic zone, including fishing, mining and oil exploration.

Russia is sending a clear message of intimidation by deploying major Navy vessels to the island of Spitsbergen in full defiance of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, particularly at a time when Russia's primary claims to vast amounts of the Arctic Ocean are based on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The news around the deployment of Russian naval forces is distracting. In times of high oil the analysis is focused around the oil under the Arctic, but this really has more to do with Russian fisherman who are reportedly fishing all around the island of Spitsbergen this summer.

According to the UNCLOS this would constitute illegal fishing. However, with a major Russian Navy presence one wonders what the Norwegian coast guard can do. The Navy presence is characterized as a patrol. For Norway's part, it was announced today that there will be tourist restrictions imposed on the eastern side of the island. Not really sure what that means, or why.

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As an aside, there is a report out that Russia is looking to buy a Slava cruiser from the Ukranian Navy, the Slava class cruiser Ukrayina, previously known as "Lobov". The cruiser is reportedly 96% complete and could be completed for $30 million.