Ambassador to the special instructions of the Russian Foreign Ministry, the senior official of the Arctic Council from Russia Nikolay Korchunov said that Moscow recorded the growth of military activity in the Arctic on the part of the states not included in the Arctic region. It quotes RIA Novosti.
He noted that Russia adheres to those commitments that countries in the Ministerial Declaration of Peacekeeping, especially to curb military tension.
“Naturally, we are concerned about the increase in military activity of member countries, as well as not arctic states in high latitudes,” said Korchunov.
The Russian Foreign Ministry noted that Western countries systematically conduct anti-Russian teachings in the Arctic zone. On May 10, there was an incident, which caused the reaction of the Russian side: a nuclear submarine of the US Navy entered the Norwegian port. The Norwegian side announced the absence of nuclear weapons, but did not provide reliable information confirming this. Russian diplomats regrettable in connection with this event and so that Norway announced the “stabilizing” role of such visits.
Earlier, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken criticized Russia’s action in the Arctic region, calling them “illegal maritime claims”, and urged Moscow to avoid the militarization of the Arctic.
The Arctic Council includes Denmark, Iceland, Canada, Norway, Russia, USA, Finland and Sweden. The status of observers in the Council has 12 non-Arctic countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, India, China and France. For the next two years, Russia will be the chairman of the Council.