Comparative analysis of military security policy of Norway and Denmark in the Arctic region

• Published in: Post-Soviet Issues
• Main Authors: Igor S. Doroshenko, Игорь С. Дорошенко
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: Russian
• Published: The Centre of Regional Research 2017
• Subjects: прибрежные государства; Nordic countries; the Arctic; High North; Denmark; Norway; Coastal countries; Северная Европа; Арктика; Дания; Норвегия; Arctic; Climate change; North Atlantic
• Online Access: https://www.postsovietarea.com/jour/article/view/135; https://doi.org/10.24975/2313-8920-2017-4-4-336-346

The interest of Western countries in the Arctic region is growing with each new statement about the sharp climate change and the melting of the Arctic Ocean’s glaciers. In addition to the threats related to the environmental situation in the Arctic zone, the desire to participate in shelf research and development, the potential of using the sea routes of the region by both the Arctic and non-Arctic states creates threats to the security of the Nordic countries.The coastal states, which in case of the escalation of tensions will be in the midst of a regional conflict in the Arctic, are Norway and Denmark. Therefore, the analysis of a level of Norwegian and Danish military security against a backdrop of increasing confrontation between Russia and West and changing climate situation in the region is urgent ., Nevertheless, to ensure a necessary level of defence capability as well as security of borders and zones of exceptional economic interests in the conditions of low temperatures is not so easy. This article examines the Norwegian and Danish approaches to the new military security challenges in the Arctic region. The paper contains examination of the doctrinal basis of military security along with the main documents that form the security concepts of the two countries in the Arctic region, and the reports of the defense ministries and scientific institutions surveys of military activities in the Arctic.Three directions of coastal countries’ policy making in the issues of military security were chosen for comparison. Firstly, the relationships with the USA, the leader of the North Atlantic alliance, which allow us to determine the significance of Norway and Denmark in building NATO security in the north. Secondly, the relationships with the EU and separately with the Nordic countries are considered. This case shows the level of involvement of the European community in the issue of ensuring the Arctic security . Thirdly, the relationships with Russia which has the largest military contingent in the northern ...