Will the Arctic be the next global flashpoint?

Ice Station Zebra... This was a concern for many years during cold war. I was in the 172d Infantry Brigade, Fort Wainwright, AK from 1981 - 1984, and this was a drill and mission set. It is also a mission of the AK ARNG - Alaskan Scouts. Likely, the threat has never left. I believe the Russians just want to flex their muscles to show, or try to show, they are still a player. They need to focus on domestic issues.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063121/

With the amount of Oil & Gas that the Russian's think they have recently found, added to what they already know about, their share of the resources covered by the 200-350 Exclusive Economic Zone extending from their shoreline is significant. SIGNIFICANT. But they have also been coming up with unique ways to claim more 'shoreline', going so far as planting a Russian Flag on the seafloor AT THE NORTH POLE (they have been working on supporting claims as to why they 'own' the North Pole). What we are looking at, basically, is Russia wanting to claim the entire Arctic. Maybe they will let us keep our little operation in Prudhoe Bay going, but they want as much of this Oil & Gas as they can get their hands on.

Quite possibly the worst imaginable duty station.
Waiting by Anti-aircraft weapons that will surely be the first targets taken out, freezing your behind off with no amenities at all, waiting for an attack that will never come.

At the rate the polar cap is melting I think this will be a non-issue if 20 years if the global warming doomsayers are correct.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2016/03/10/barack_obama_and_justin_trudeau_announce_new_climate_and_arctic_initiatives.html

"President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau share a common vision of a prosperous and sustainable North American economy, and the opportunities afforded by advancing clean growth. They emphasize and embrace the special relationship between the two countries and their history of close collaboration on energy development, environmental protection, and Arctic leadership. The two leaders regard the Paris Agreement as a turning point in global efforts to combat climate change and anchor economic growth in clean development. They resolve that the United States and Canada must and will play a leadership role internationally in the low carbon global economy over the coming decades, including through science-based steps to protect the Arctic and its peoples. Canada and the U.S. will continue to respect and promote the rights of Indigenous peoples in all climate change decision making. Furthermore, the leaders emphasize the importance of the U.S. and Canada continuing to cooperate closely with Mexico on climate and energy action and commit to strengthen a comprehensive and enduring North American climate and energy partnership.
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Recognizing the role that carbon markets can play in helping countries achieve their climate targets while also driving low-carbon innovation, both countries commit to work together to support robust implementation of the carbon markets-related provisions of the Paris Agreement. The federal governments, together and in close communication with states, provinces and territories, will explore options for ensuring the environmental integrity of transferred units, in particular to inform strong INDC accounting and efforts to avoid “double-counting” of emission reductions. They will also encourage sub-national governments to share lessons learned about the design of effective carbon pricing systems and supportive policies and measures. The countries will expand their collaboration in this area over time.

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Building a sustainable Arctic economy. We confirm that for commercial activities in the Arctic - including shipping, fishing, and oil and gas exploration and development - we will set a world-class standard by basing development decisions and operations on scientific evidence. Further, commercial activities will occur only when the highest safety and environmental standards are met, including national and global climate and environmental goals, and Indigenous rights and agreements. Canada and the U.S. will work to develop this year a shared and science-based standard for considering the life-cycle impacts of commercial activities in the Arctic.

- Low impact shipping corridors: We will work together to establish consistent policies for ships operating in the region, taking into account important ecological and cultural areas, vessel traffic patterns, Indigenous and Northern Arctic input, and increased cooperation of our Coast Guards. The two countries will also work together to share assessments of navigation data quality and capacities for supporting safe and low-impact shipping in the Beaufort Sea. In addition, we will determine with Arctic partners how best to address the risks posed by heavy fuel oil use and black carbon emissions from Arctic shipping.
- Abundant Arctic fish: The leaders call for a binding international agreement to prevent the opening of unregulated fisheries in the Central Arctic Ocean to preserve living marine resources and promote scientific research in the region. Canada offers to host the next round of negotiations, to continue momentum and build on a precautionary, science-based principle to commercial fishing that both countries have put in place in their Arctic waters.
- Science-based approach to oil and gas: If oil and gas development and exploration proceeds, activities must align with science-based standards between the two nations that ensure appropriate preparation for operating in Arctic conditions, including robust and effective well control and emergency response measures."

Russia is now planning to import gas in Europe and France via Siberia..

http://www.ouest-france.fr/pays-de-la-loire/saint-nazaire-44600/des-brise-glaces-siberiens-bientot-sur-la-loire-3885149