Patrushev said the West is building up its military presence near Russia's borders in the Arctic

Western countries are increasing their military presence near Russia's borders in the Arctic to strengthen their positions in the struggle for resources. This was reported on November 22 by Nikolai Patrushev, Russian presidential aide and chairman of the Russian Maritime Board.

"Western countries are building up their military presence in high latitudes, near the borders of our country, to strengthen their own positions within the framework of the intensifying global competition for Arctic resources and spaces," Patrushev told the first meeting of the Council of the Maritime Board of the Russian Federation on the protection of Russia's national interests in the Arctic.

He noted that the sanctions imposed are aimed at disrupting the implementation of Russia's Arctic projects. According to him, the situation in the Arctic only seems stable, negative trends in that area are growing. As Patrushev noted, despite the fact that Western countries want to "contain" Russia in the Arctic region, they perceive Russia's successes painfully.

The Chairman of the Maritime Collegium also drew attention to the fact that the Western states put pressure on the Russian side using the topic of ecology. They have launched a propaganda campaign to accuse the Russian Federation of alleged inability to ensure safe development of the region. In his opinion, all these points pose a threat to the realization of national interests and ensuring Russia's national security in the Arctic region.

At the same time, Patrushev pointed out that maintaining Russia's control over the Arctic territory, as well as the shelf and the Northern Sea Route, is one of the main priorities of the national maritime policy.

"For Russia, the Arctic is of special importance, having a significant impact on ensuring Russia's geopolitical and geo-economic positions in the world, on the dynamics of its internal development," Patrushev added.

Earlier, on November 2, Michael Sfraga, the U.S. president's special envoy for Arctic relations, said that the United States is alarmed by the growing interaction between Russia and China in the Arctic and is closely monitoring it.

Prior to that, on September 17, the commander of the U.S. Air Force in Europe and Africa, General James Hecker, said that NATO is studying the idea of creating a joint air operations control center in the Arctic. Hecker specified that the commander-in-chief of the joint NATO forces in Europe, General Christopher Cavoli supported the idea of creating a center for air operations in the Arctic.

On July 11, it became known that the United States, Canada and Finland will create a consortium to build icebreakers in the Arctic to counter Russia and China. The purpose of the pact was called the creation of a fleet of icebreaker ships to "project power in the polar regions" and ensure compliance with international norms and treaties.

On July 24, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the Arctic strategy presented by the United States confirms Washington's intention to determine the future of the region using force. According to Zakharova, the document is aimed at escalation in the region.