Gerrard Cowan, Jane's Defence Weekly, April 3, 2009
Russia's plan to create an Arctic Group of Forces is not a step
towards military conflict in the High North and could actually help
foster increased co-operation in the region, Norwegian State Secretary
for Defence Espen Barth Eide has told Jane's .
The plan to create the force was announced on 27 March. It would be
readily deployable across the vast region and maintain interoperability
with the general Russian armed forces, border guard and coast guard.
Special ammunition, weaponry and transport would be designed for the
'freezing temperature' task force.
Moscow has insisted that it has no intention of militarising the
Arctic, saying its goal is to make the area "a zone of peace and
co-operation". This view was endorsed by Barth Eide, who said Norway
was "not concerned". He pointed to the increasing military investment
of other Arctic countries, including Norway, and said this was
"logical", given the potential for oil and gas reserves and
dramatically shortened transport routes.
"I don't think an increased military presence needs to increase
tensions if the interested parties are informed. Indeed, it can have
the opposite effect," he said. "During the Cold War, for example, good
intelligence was important to promote peace, as it could tell you what
another country was not doing as well as what it was doing."
For the original text, see: http://www.janes.com/news/defence/jdw/jdw090403_1_n.shtml
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