Russia is actively seeking to control the Bear Gap to protect its Northern Fleet and gain strategic maritime access.
The waterway serves as a critical boundary where the shallow Barents Sea transitions into the deeper Norwegian Sea.
Russia uses tactics like GPS jamming, disinformation, and naval military exercises to intimidate Norway and challenge NATO.
Increased scrutiny of the 1920 Svalbard Treaty suggests Russia may use the archipelago as a lever to expand its influence.