(Zero Hedge)—Russia is winning the race to dominate the Arctic region, growing its footprint at the top of the world, and with China’s help to boot… That’s the conclusion of a new investigative Wall Street Journal report, which features interactive graphics and maps.
The Arctic has long been understood by international powers as a politically neutral part of the globe, and in the years following the collapse of the Soviet Union, there was even some cooperation between the United States and Russia on things like developing and regulating Arctic fisheries, as well as environmental preservation concerns.
But as we’ve long documented, a new ‘race’ for Artic dominance has heated up simultaneous to the Russia-Ukraine war, and accompanying US sanctions targeting Moscow, as well as Chinese entities willing help skirt Washington’s punitive measures. Thrown into the mix, and likely to complicate ratcheting geopolitical tensions, is President Trump’s declaration that he wants to buy Greenland.
Russia already has a distinct advantage which comes by way of geography, given it has always possessed the largest Arctic population of any of the nations bordering the Arctic Ocean.
Russia’s Arctic bastion and territorial claims – it has geography on its side, which could be part of the motivating factor in Trump’s eyeing Greenland for US control:
NATO actually currently has five more military sites in total than Russia, but the Russian military’s bases are far larger. The Simons Foundation Canada has documented in a fresh study that Russia has 32 “continuously attended military sites” in the Arctic region as of 2024.
Notably the outposts located Franz Josef Land, Kotelny Island, and Wrangel Island are able to house up to 150 ground troops each.
One of NATO’s founding members, Norway, maintains 15 “continuously attended military sites”. And per The Simons Foundation report, other NATO members have as follows:
- United States: 10 Arctic sites
- Canada: 8 Arctic sites
- Denmark: 3 Arctic sites, which are in Greenland
- Iceland: 1 Arctic site
Still, Russia’s military has warned that “the Arctic is a region for potential future conflict” amid the global build-up there, according to Russia’s Commander of the Northern Fleet, Aleksandr Moiseyev.
The spread of Arctic bases over time, screenshot via Wall Street Journal:
As for China-Russian cooperation in the far north, the fresh WSJ report observes in the following:
That support has been prominent in the Arctic, where Chinese companies are significant investors and equipment suppliers in Russian energy projects including the Yamal LNG and Arctic 2 LNG projects.
Russia, in return, has been shipping fuel to China using its so-called shadow fleet, by which sanctioned vessels make illicit deliveries of Russian oil to markets in Asia. Last year saw a record volume for transit cargo through the Northern Sea Route from northwestern Russia to the Bering Strait, according to Rosatom, the Russian agency that oversees the waterway. Almost all of that cargo went from Russia to China, and more than half was crude oil. The total volume remains a fraction of crude-oil traffic through the Suez Canal: While the northern route’s shorter distance can cut transit times by two weeks, sea ice remains a treacherous obstacle despite shrinking ice cover.
https://twitter.com/PhilipCMead/status/1886376590487277899
Hopefully, under the new Trump administration, Russia and the US can go back to some level of friendly cooperation and keep the territory ‘neutral’ – rather than a ground of competition which could see eventual military confrontation over Arctic turf.
Why the National Debt Is the Looming Threat to Your Retirement Plans
The Hidden Crisis No One Is Talking About
Every day, headlines warn about inflation, market volatility, and global instability—but the greatest looming threat to your retirement might be something far more fundamental: America’s skyrocketing national debt.
You can learn more about how the national debt affects you by reading this 3-minute report titled, “Debt Will Hit $40T in 2026: Prepare Your Retirement Now“.
With debt growing faster than most Americans can possibly fathom, the government’s borrowing habits have reached historic—and dangerous—levels. To cover spending, Washington is making moves with their budget packages, tariffs, and taxes. Is it enough? No. It’s not even close to what would be necessary to stop out-of-control debt, let alone reverse it.
How Debt Erodes Your Nest Egg
There are only so many levers government and the Federal Reserve can pull to try to protect Americans, assuming that’s even a top priority for them. Unfortunately, pulling one level to relive one pressure invariably adds pressure from another direction. This is why prices keep going up even as inflation reportedly slows.
For retirees and pre-retirees, that’s a perfect storm. The dollars you’ve worked hard to save lose value, and your cost of living increases while your investments lag behind.
If you’re relying solely on paper-based assets—stocks, bonds, or mutual funds—you’re essentially tied to the same system that’s creating the problem. It’s a system that was designed to work well in the 20th century, not in today’s world with people living longer and the dollar rapidly losing value.
This is why the 3-minute report, “Debt Will Hit $40T in 2026: Prepare Your Retirement Now,” is so important.
The Precious Metals Hedge
Thousands of Americans are looking for a tangible, time-tested hedge: physical gold and silver.
Unlike paper assets, precious metals aren’t dependent on government policy or the stock market’s mood swings. They’re real, finite resources that have maintained value for thousands of years through wars, recessions, and inflationary periods.
In fact, during times of high inflation and fiscal instability, gold often performs its best—because it’s seen as a store of value when faith in the dollar weakens. This is why prices have skyrocketed this year and are expected by many economists to continue going up in the future.
Take Control with a Gold IRA
One of the most effective ways to protect your retirement from national debt fallout is through a self-directed Gold IRA. This IRS-approved account lets you hold physical gold and silver within your retirement portfolio, giving you:
- Direct ownership of your assets
- A hedge against inflation and dollar decline
- The control to diversify beyond Wall Street
Augusta Precious Metals specializes in helping Americans just like you take this step with confidence. The company has earned a strong reputation for transparency, education, and personalized service—making it one of the most trusted names in the industry.
The Next Step: Secure Your Financial Future
Augusta Precious Metals has helped thousands of Americans with at least $50,000 to invest from their IRAs, 401(K)s, TSPs, and other retirement accounts safeguard their savings through precious metals.
If you’re concerned about what the rising national debt could mean for your future, now is the time to act.
Read this 3-minute report titled, “Debt Will Hit $40T in 2026: Prepare Your Retirement Now“ and learn the simple steps you can take to protect your retirement.