Now that the Harper government has left us with our pants down in the Arctic, Vlad Putin has placed Russia's Northern Fleet and paratrooper units on full alert for military exercises in the polar region.
Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, who is overseeing an expensive modernisation of the armed forces, said Russia faced new threats to its security which obliged it to boost its military strength and capabilities.
"New challenges and threats to military security require the armed forces to further boost their military capabilities. Special attention must be paid to strategic formations in the North," RIA quoted Shoigu as saying.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksey Meshkov said on Monday, according to Tass news service, that Russia was "deeply concerned about the increase in exercises of NATO countries close to our borders".
It was "particularly surprising that this takes place in the north-eastern region of Europe, which is the most stable in security terms, not only on our continent but possibly in the world," Mr Meshkov said.
Tensions between Russia and the West have reached their worst level since the Cold War over the crisis in Ukraine.
Putin loves to ring our bells. Twice the Swedes have detected what they claim were Russian subs in their home waters. Twice the Brits have detected what they believe were Russian subs off the Royal Navy's own submarine base at Faslane, Scotland.
Maybe Putin will give Canada a pass because, after all, what's the point of going up there if we wouldn't notice?
The exercise reportedly will involve 41-surface warships, some 15-submarines, 40,000 personnel and a variety of air force units. Maybe they'll send Jason Kenney a souvenir postcard.
The exercise reportedly will involve 41-surface warships, some 15-submarines, 40,000 personnel and a variety of air force units. Maybe they'll send Jason Kenney a souvenir postcard.
