In the mediate of the ice of Greenland lies Pitufik — the northernmost and possibly most isolated American military base. 1.5 1000 km from the Greenlandic capital of Nuuk, 1207 km north of the Arctic ellipse — welcome to the end of the world. U.S. Vice president J. D. Vance and his wife Usha visited the base in fresh days.
What looks like nothing on the map is strategically everything.. No wonder, then, that the US, Russia and China are fighting for influence in the far north. But what precisely makes the region so unstable?
In terms of geostrategic The Arctic is of large importance. Whoever is stationed here is not only controlling the routes of polar flights, but besides securing the northern flank of North America — a possible weakness that has long been underestimated.
From an isolated U.S. Pituffik detects Russian rocket firing, calculates flight routes and activates its rocket defence systems in case of threat. Hypersonic missiles, which fly low and are hard to locate, make the Pitufik early informing strategy essential to American and European security.
Greenland — A strategical Eye of the United States
“ Pitufik is the strategical eye of America,” says Danish defence analyst Peter Ernstved Rasmussen to the paper “The fresh York Times”. American expert Troy Bouffard goes even further: Pitufik is presently The most crucial military location for the US.
However, the U.S. presence on the site is small: there are only about 150 soldiers permanently stationed in Pitufik. Pitufik is the only American base within the Arctic ellipse — which contrasts clearly with 32 Russian military installations in the region. Romain Chuffart, president of the Arctic Council, points to a key issue. “Pitufik’s uniqueness besides emphasizes the sensitivity of American defence in the Arctic,” he says.
No wonder the president of the United States Donald Trump not only wants to strengthen its presence in the region, but besides wants the full of Greenland to be under American control. The greater military power is not automatically better. “ A security-focused approach carries a hazard of increased tensions,” Chuffart warns.
Where planet Powers collide
The islands in the Arctic are an crucial part of the puzzle not only from a military point of view. The Arctic melts, and with it the ice caps disappear, which for centuries have been impenetrable. Open it. Marine routes and access to giant natural materials reserves. 5 neighbouring states — Canada, Russia, Norway, Denmark (via Greenland) and the United States (via Alaska) — are increasingly competing for spheres of influence.
In the last 10 years, Russia has modernised and restarted respective military bases along the northern coast of Russia. The Russian Navy is increasingly utilizing the region for military patrols. “ Although militarization in the Arctic is not as advanced as in the Cold War, Russia’s reactivation of russian bases and the expansion of its North Fleet have rightly caused concern,” Chuffart warns.
China They besides enter the Arctic, though in a more subtle way. respective investigation centres were created under the pretext of technological cooperation, frequently accompanied by icebreakers. Theoretically, they can besides be utilized for military purposes. Beijing implements its own “Polar Silk Road” — and pursues the long-term function of Arctic power, even if China is not a geographically neighbouring country.
The Arctic is not an inflamed point yet, but A fresh cold war can be inevitable. On Thursday, Russian leaders openly spoke of a "strategic counterweight for NATO" in the north. Vladimir Putin stressed that the country is ready for economical cooperation, including with western partners. But his informing is clear: "No abroad interference" will be tolerated. At the same time, Russia deploys fresh troops in the region and regularly tests fresh weapons systems under Arctic conditions.
Every step, all station, all conviction can trigger a chain reaction. The Arctic is no longer a white spot, but a powder barrel covered in frost.
