Russia contends for 65% of oil and 95% of gas in the Arctic

Israeli edition Calcalist writes that Russia demands for 1.2 million square km in the Arctic in the pursuit of gas and oil.

The territory, which area is equal to South Africa, rich in oil, gas and fish, is in the center of a dispute between Russia, Norway, Denmark, the United States and Canada. President Vladimir Putin recently called the protection of the Arctic the main task of the Russian armed forces.

Russia has recently appealed to the United Nations’ Special Commission with a request to increase its continental shelf so that it included more 1.2 million square km in the Arctic Ocean, The New York Times reported. If the request is granted, Russia will have the right of economic operation of the area, including mining and fisheries, but its sovereignty won’t spread over the region with an area.