(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many people in Russia believe their government should assert its sovereignty claims over the Arctic, according to a poll by the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center. 44 per cent of respondents think Russia must seek to defend its portion of the Arctic in order to secure economic development.

Conversely, 16 per cent of respondents would put off the division of the Arctic if it entails a confrontation with other countries, while 18 per cent think the area should become a territory with international status.

According to the latest estimates from the United States Geological Survey, the North Pole region holds about a quarter of the world's oil reserves.

Earlier this month, Russian president Vladimir Putin congratulated a team of explorers who planted a Russian flag on the Arctic seabed—in what was deemed as a symbolic claim to natural resources—saying, "Your work was interesting, crucial, important for the country and not without risk."

Canadian foreign minister Peter MacKay denounced Russia's actions, saying, "This isn't the 15th century. You can't go around the world and just plant flags." Aside from Russia and Canada, Denmark and the U.S. also claim sovereignty rights over the Arctic.

On Aug. 23, the state-run research institute World Ocean Geology—which led the Russian Arctic mission—said that there is enough evidence to claim the country's sovereignty over parts of the Arctic. Viktor Posyolov, deputy head of the Institute, declared: "We obtained enough material to demonstrate that the Lomonosov Ridge is an extension of the continental margin."

Researchers from Denmark and Germany questioned the relevance of the geological claim. Kai Sorensen, deputy director of the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, said: "Just one sample will not prove anything." Wilfried Jokat, a geophysicist with Germany's Alfred-Wegener Institute, also referred to Russia's claims, stating, "If this gets out of hand, the United States could claim Spain, because millions of years ago they were connected."

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