Russia is beefing up its military presence in the Arctic, sending troops and missiles to strengthen its position in the competition for the region’s extensive oil and gas reserves.

As well as deploying advanced anti-aircraft missiles to the region, President Vladimir Putin is overseeing the completion of six new bases designed to see off foreign competition for the natural resources.

It is estimated that billions of tonnes of oil and gas lie beneath the seabed, which is currently disputed territory.

Military strength: President Vladimir Putin (pictured) is stepping up his nation's presence in the Arctic Circle in an attempt to support claims to the region's valuable natural resources

The Arctic is the only region in the world where borders remain unregulated, and Russia, Norway, Denmark and Canada have all made submissions to the U.N. claiming ownership of the Arctic seabed and its buried treasures.

Mr Putin’s long-term plan includes the construction of some 13 airfields and 10 radar posts in the Arctic, whose assets also include thriving fisheries.

‘The Arctic has a strategic importance for Russia because of its significant reserves of oil and gas,’ Igor Korotchenko, editor of the Moscow-based journal National Defence, told The Times.

‘The conditions are very tough, especially in winter, so these new bases will allow Russian troops to be located there all year, and to control the airspace for hundreds of kilometres around.’

Already, some 150 Russian troops are reported to be seeing in the New Year in the Arctic Trefoil base, which is on the Russian island of Alexandra Land in the heart of the Arctic Circle.

Competition: Russia, Norway, Denmark and Canada have all made submissions to the U.N. claiming ownership of the Arctic seabed and its estimated billions of tonnes of oil and gas. Pictured, a drilling rig at the Val Gamburtseva oil fields in Russia's Arctic Far North

Claim: The Arctic Circle is the only region in the world where borders remain unregulated, which is sparking international tension over its valuable resources. Pictured, a drilling rig at the Val Gamburtseva oil fields in Russia's Arctic Far North

Russian’s defence ministry also announced this month that advanced S-400 air defence missiles are being established on the Novaya Zemlya archipelago and at the Arctic port of Tiksi.

The other five military bases, which are nearing completion, are on Kotelny Island in the New Siberian islands, Sredny Island in the Severnaya Zemlya archipelago, the Rogachevo settlement on Novaya Zemlya, and Wrangel Island and Cape Schmidt on the Chukotka peninsula.

Russia’s force also includes the warships and nuclear-powered submarines of the northern fleet based on the Kola peninsula, two units of mechanised infantry, snowmobiles and hovercraft.

Experts warned that this indicates that Russia is determined to use its military force, or the threat of military force, to insert itself in the ‘competition’ for resources.

But Russia is not the only nation to have stepped up its military designs on the Arctic.

Force: Vladimir Putin’s plan includes the construction of some 13 airfields and 10 radar posts in the Arctic, whose assets also include thriving fisheries. Pictured, Vladimir Putin on a visit to Alexandra Land in 2010

Struggle: The U.N. is expected to review Russia’s claim to the land, which insists two underwater ledges reaching towards the North Pole belong to its continental shelf, in February

British and American submarines have recently been located in the Arctic Ocean, while Canada has also increased its military presence and President Obama has proposed to launch the U.S. icebreaker fleet.

The Arctic seabed is so vitally important to the competing nations due to an estimated 90billion barrels of oil that lie beneath it.

The region is also said to be home to around 30 per cent of the world’s as-yet undiscovered natural gas.