Arctic nations meet under threat of new Cold War

The thawing of the polar ice promises Arctic nations new opportunities to open ocean trade routes and offshore oil fields.

 

But the chill in relations between Western powers and their Arctic neighbor Russia could make the North a frontline in a new Cold War.

 

Senior envoys from the countries of the Arctic Council will meet on Thursday in the Canadian Arctic city of Iqaluit, on Baffin Island.

 

The United States will assume chairmanship of the group with a call to address the threats and new opportunities of climate change.

 

But the bear in the room is Russia, already at loggerheads with the West over the crisis in Ukraine, and newly assertive in the Arctic.

 

During World War II, Iqaluit was an airfield used to ferry planes and supplies to Europe.

 

Now, it is an Arctic hub, and any warplanes in the sky are likely NATO jets scrambled to intercept probing Russian patrols.

 

Read More: Arctic nations meet under threat of new Cold War – Yahoo News