Arctic Russia

canada, the olympics and the arctic

As the Vancouver Olympics began правда used the occasion to reflect on Canada’s Arctic ambitions and its relationships with Russia.  The article makes the claim that, ‘Канады использовали Олимпиаду для укрепления своих позиций в мире’ – i.e., that Canada has used the Olympics to strengthen its position in the world.  The article goes on to analyse Canada’s geopolitical strengths, its membership of numerous international organizations and its manipulation of NATO in an anti-Russian direction.  The problem, it appears, is Prime Minister Harper’s who may use the occasion of the Olympics to rally support against Russia’s imperialist approach to the Arctic - ‘Харпер будет использовать проводимые в ходе Олимпиады встречи, чтобы заручиться поддержкой в борьбе с якобы имеющим место “российским империализмом” в Арктике’.

I have to add that none of this seems particularly convincing and probably reflects no more than a small strain of popular prejudice.