Patrushev notes rising tensions in the Arctic due to NATO

Tensions in the Arctic region are increasing due to the actions of NATO. This was stated by Nikolai Patrushev, Russian presidential aide and chairman of the Maritime Board, on December 18.

"Military activity of NATO member countries in the Arctic contributes to the growth of conflict potential in the region. The policy pursued by Western countries to contain Russia and the imposition of sanctions complicate the implementation of Russian Arctic projects," he said at a meeting of the Maritime Board.

According to Patrushev, international cooperation within the framework of the Arctic Council and other formats has been suspended. In addition, there are attempts to discuss Arctic issues without Russia's participation.

The Chairman of the Maritime Board drew attention to the fact that Russia's Arctic zone is critical for national security, as the longest part of the country's state border is located here.

"Here passes the longest part of the state border of Russia - about 20 thousand km, which must be guarded and protected from the increasingly frequent provocative actions of our Arctic neighbors," Patrushev stressed.

Earlier, on December 12, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Alexander Moiseyev said that NATO countries have intensified military activities in the Arctic region. They are practicing ways of using troops in difficult climatic conditions of the Arctic Circle, expanding the region of operational use of naval forces in the Arctic Ocean.

Prior to that, on December 2, Russian Ambassador to Norway Nikolai Korchunov said that the strengthening of NATO's military activities in the Arctic is fraught with risks of dangerous incidents and escalation. According to him, the risks of dangerous incidents and escalation are fraught with the lack of effective confidence-building measures and military communication channels.

On November 30, an amphibious operations center appeared in the northern part of Norway. It was specified that this was done as part of "another step by NATO to strengthen its operations on the border with Russia in the Arctic".