Russia’s Arctic superiority: Is it too late for the Royal Navy?

Russia’s Arctic superiority: Is it too late for the Royal Navy?

21 Feb 24
Posted by: OC Finley McDonald
10 minutes, 4 seconds read
Message from the Editor

The fourth article in our series from BRNC Pellew Division officer cadets, here the author considers the potential implications for world trade as the Arctic sea routes become increasingly viable. The Royal Navy has a role to play, but faces strategic diversions that marginalize the development of a long-term Arctic strategy. A 10 minute read.

For centuries the Royal Navy controlled world trade by holding geostrategic choke points around the globe (Jackie Fisher’s ‘keys that lock up the world’ – Singapore, Gibraltar, Suez, etc.). However, with the passage of time and shifting of global centres of production, the Royal Navy has lost this power and with it Britain’s empire. These shifts are once again happening, Climate change has opened a new corridor to the east and Russia, with its need for natural resources, has struck first. Many say the Pacific will be the theatre that the 21st century is fought over. I think it could well…

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