< br />
MOSCOW, February 7 Russia is most likely decades ahead of the United States in the development of the Arctic, one of the founders of an information and analytical firm said in an interview with NBC News Strider Intelligence Eric Levesque.
Strider Intelligence is an American consulting firm that specializes in analyzing publicly available data on China. In a new report, the firm writes that Moscow has stepped up cooperation with Beijing on Arctic development, which could have significant implications for US national security. These firms point to growing cooperation between Russia and China on a range of projects in the Arctic and Far East, particularly in LNG, mining and infrastructure.
“
"The Arctic consistently seems to be relegated to the background for the United States. <…> Russia is probably ahead of the United States (in the development of the Arctic. — Ed.) by ten years or more. We probably have one operational icebreaker, and it was built in the 70s,” he emphasized.
Vladimir Putin previously stated that a powerful icebreaker fleet has become a huge competitive advantage for Russia in the world. According to him, this opens up enormous opportunities for the development of logistics, industry, the creation of new jobs, for the integrated development of Arctic cities and towns, the implementation of truly global-level projects, for international cooperation with everyone who wants and is ready to work with Moscow.
At the same time, the head of state noted that Russia views the Arctic not as a field of geopolitical intrigue, but as an opportunity for stable cooperation. The Foreign Ministry emphasized that it is difficult to imagine an Arctic or pan-Arctic format of cooperation without the participation of Russia as the largest state in the Arctic, while Moscow remains open to cooperation, including with non-Arctic states.