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Jeremy Bender, Business Insider: This map shows the massive scale of Russia's planned fortification of the Arctic

The Arctic ice is slowly melting, and Russia is positioning itself to take advantage of new shipping routes along with natural resources available beneath the Arctic seabed.

In order to capitalize on a changing Arctic, Russia is undertaking a major military upgrade of its northern coast and outlying Arctic archipelagos. These bases — which include search-and-rescue stations, military ports and airstrips, and military headquarters — are positioning Russia to become the dominant power in the region.

Update: Russia's Arctic pivot is a massive military undertaking -- Jeremy Bender, Business Insider

WNU Editor: The Russians are not the only ones who are militarization the Arctic .... The Creeping Militarization of the Arctic (Abhijit Singh, The Diplomat)