ExxonMobil, Rosneft start joint Arctic drilling in defiance of sanctions

http://rt.com/business/179200-exxonmobil-rosneft-arctic-drilling/

Vladimir Putin orders speeding up of military presence in the Arctic

http://siberiantimes.com/other/others/news/vladimir-putin-orders-speeding-up-of-military-presence-in-the-arctic/

The firm Russian move came after Ottawa indicated it is mapping the Arctic seabed with a view to claiming the North Pole seabed as Canadian. This puts Canada at odds with Russia which argues the underwater Lomonosov Ridge is linked to the Siberian land mass.

At stake for both countries - and others with Arctic claims such as Denmark - are vast untapped oil and gas reserves.