Putin pushes for expanded Russian presence in Arctic

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that Russia will expand its presence in the Arctic, stating it was essential for the economic and security interests of the country.

The AP reports Putin told Kremlin party activists that the Russian military has been working on restoring a Soviet-era military base, located on the New Siberian Islands, that had been shut down after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The facility, he said, was key in the protection of Arctic shipping routes.

The expansion is the latest move in an international push to assert Arctic jurisdiction. The Arctic is believed to hold up to a quarter of Earth’s undiscovered oil and gas.