Kenneth Glad
Military planners are watching a northern passage more closely. The main concern is whether NATO can track Russian submarines before they reach the North Atlantic.
The Bear Gap, a roughly 650-kilometer stretch between northern Norway and Svalbard, has become a sharper focus for NATO as Russian Northern Fleet activity draws concern.
The Times reports that Norwegian Defence Minister Tore Sandvik warned that Moscow could seek control of the area to protect forces based on the Kola Peninsula, home to Russia’s Northern Fleet.
Russian submarines moving from Arctic bases toward the North Atlantic may pass through or near the corridor. For NATO, early detection helps allied navies decide where to deploy aircraft, ships and sensors.
Sandvik told The Times that Russian weapons development makes the area dangerous for several allies:
“We see what kind of weapons systems Russia is developing and we know that if they can control Bear Gap, they can also use hypersonic missiles against NATO… against London, against Norway, against Denmark.”
Britain and Norway add forces
Britain plans to raise its troop presence in northern Norway to 2,000. Norway is also expanding defences in Finnmark, including artillery and air defence.
London and Oslo have agreed to cooperate on protecting undersea infrastructure and monitoring Russian submarines. Their navies are expected to use a combined fleet of at least 13 vessels.
According to Al Jazeera, analysts describe the Bear Gap as a key route for Russian naval movement between the Barents Sea and the North Atlantic.
Russia keeps a limited presence on Svalbard, while Norway has sovereignty under an international treaty.
Norwegian intelligence has warned that Moscow may try to increase its freedom of action there.
Sandvik told The Times, that Norway does not see an immediate Russian threat to Svalbard, because Russia is still heavily occupied by the war in Ukraine and by economic strain.
China remains a factor
China also has interests in Arctic shipping, energy and research. Sandvik said Russia cooperates with Beijing in the region but still wants to remain the leading Arctic power.
Al Jazeera said that the Arctic is drawing greater attention as states examine transport routes, resources and naval access. That has made surveillance in northern waters a growing priority for countries on both sides of the Atlantic.
The Bear Gap matters because it offers one of the clearer places to monitor submarines leaving Arctic waters.
If allied forces can track those movements early, they can better protect undersea cables, ports and sea lanes.
If they lose contact, Russian vessels could enter the Atlantic with more freedom to maneuver.
Sources: Al Jazeera, The Times
