Recent Russian moves in the Arctic have renewed debate over that country’s intentions and Canada’s own status at the top of the world. The newspaper Izvestia reported late last month that Russia’s military will resume fighter patrols to the North Pole for the first time in 30 years. “It’s clearly sending strategic messaging,” said Whitney Lackenbauer, an Arctic expert and history professor at the University of Waterloo. Control and development of the Northern Sea Route — Russia’s equivalent of the Northwest Passage — has been given to a central government agency. It also offers possibilities for safe and secure shipping in the Northern Sea Route.

Source: National Post February 10, 2019 16:18 UTC