Russia warns of war over Arctic resources

(Press TV) -- Russia raises the possibility of a war in the Arctic within a decade over control of the region's huge unexploited oil and gas reserves.

"The presence and potential escalation of armed conflicts near Russia's national borders, pending border agreements between Russia and several neighboring nations, are the major threats to Russia's interests and border security," Russia's new national security strategy said Wednesday in a paper which examined potential security threats to the country by 2020.

The Kremlin also suggested that a Russian military force could be used to resolve problems that would devastate the balance of forces near Russia's borders.

"The attention of international politics in the long-term perspective will be concentrated on the acquisition of energy resources," the strategy said.

Norway, Canada, Denmark and the United States have similar claims over portions of the Arctic shelf which apparently contains important reserves of oil and gas.

The document was drawn up by the Russian Security Council, which includes the Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, and heads of the military and intelligence agencies.

In 2007, Russia restarted its strategic bomber patrol flights over the Arctic Ocean.