Russia expands military presence in Arctic.

• Author: Tadjdeh, Yasmin

Russia is increasing its military presence along its northern border in the Arctic as sea ice melts and opens new water routes.

The icy region is an economic boon for the nation. Russia relies on the Arctic's oil and minerals for revenue. Additionally, climate change is opening new passageways, allowing the country to one day charge fees to vessels traversing its waters, experts said.

Evelyn Farkas, former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia, said the United States, as an Arctic nation, must be vigilant as Russia beefs up its forces in the region.

"Obviously Russia does have a legitimate interest, as do we, in the free flow of commerce and navigation through the region," she told defense reporters in November. "Of course, they're worried about their security, but I would say that we do need to keep a very sharp eye on what they're doing."

Farkas, who retired from her post at the Pentagon in late October, said the real issue is what the Russians are putting on their military bases. "What kinds of capabilities [do they have] and how might they affect us if their intent was to be negative toward the United States and our allies?"

The military and the intelligence community are closely monitoring the situation and have a "good sense" of it, she noted. Additionally, "the Russians themselves are trumpeting quite proudly what they're doing in the Arctic."

In October, the Russian Ministry of Defence announced it was nearing completion of a base located on an island called Alexandra Land, on the 80th parallel north, where 150 solthers could live for 18 months without support.

The Russians currently have built or are building 19 military bases in the region, according to the Heritage Foundation's "2016 Index of U.S. Military Strength" report that was released in October.

"Russia's northern fleet, which is based in the Arctic, counts for two-thirds of the Russian navy. A new Arctic command was established in 2015 to coordinate all Russian military activities in the Arctic region," the report said. "The ultimate goal is to deploy a combined Russian [armed] force in the Arctic by 2020, and it appears that Russia is on track to accomplish this."

Daniel Kochis, a research associate who focuses on national security and foreign policy at Heritage, said the situation is precarious but a war was unlikely.

"I don't think I foresee any sort of hot war going on tliere but I think what you do see is Russia really wanting to...