According to Bloomberg, rivalry between Russia and NATO in the Arctic has intensified markedly in recent years. The agency says the situation is increasingly beginning to resemble the Cold War-era standoff, though now shaped by far more advanced technology.

In comments to Bloomberg, Vice Admiral Rune Andersen, chief of Norway’s joint headquarters, described modern Russian nuclear submarines as the clearest expression of President Vladimir Putin’s growing naval power. In his view, the development of submarine forces has become a priority for Moscow.

Bloomberg also reported that Norway’s Joint Headquarters, located near the Arctic city of Bude, is taking on an increasingly prominent role in NATO exercises focused on tracking submarines from Russia’s Northern Fleet. According to the agency, the alliance monitors Russian submarines around the clock, every day of the year.

The report notes that technological advances have pushed anti-submarine surveillance further north. Western militaries are now trying to detect Russian submarines before they leave the relatively shallow Barentsevo Sea and enter deeper waters off the Norwegian coast.

At the same time, Bloomberg points out that Russia still trails Western countries and China in the overall number of warships. But when it comes to the Northern Fleet, the agency suggests the picture looks very different.