Toe-to-Toe with Putin: Canada Is Keeping an Eye on Expanding Russian Military In the Arctic
Last edited Mon Mar 16, 2015, 06:24 PM - Edit history (1)
Today, in the morning hours of Moscow time, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave orders for snap military exercises in the Russian Far North. The sudden "combat readiness" maneuvers of the Northern Fleet are just the latest military flexing in the Arctic by Putin since the Ukraine crisis began in 2013.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu is quoted in Sputnik News, the English wing of the state media apparatus, explaining that the exercises are designed to test Russia's ability to defend its Arctic regions.
"New challenges and threats of military security demand the further heightening of military capabilities of the Armed Forces and special attention will be paid to the state of the newly formed strategic merging [of forces] in the North," said Shoigu.
Back in January, Putin announced major spending plans for Russian military infrastructure in the Arctic as well as expanding the very Northern Fleet currently testing its mettle.
http://www.vice.com/en_ca/read/canada-is-keeping-an-eye-on-expanding-russian-military-in-the-arctic-283
