ST. PETERSBURG. Dec 12 (Interfax) - The current military-political situation in the Arctic is characterized with the growing conflict potential caused by the intensified rivalry of the leading states for access to resources of the Arctic Ocean and control over strategic maritime and air routes, Russian Navy Commander Alexander Moiseyev said.
"The situation in the Arctic region is complicated and continues to exacerbate. Instead of discussing cooperation, we are increasingly hearing the opposite, including statements that the Arctic is a region of a possible future conflict. [...] Main factors influencing the situation are the suspended cooperation with Russia in regional international organizations, such as the Arctic Council, and the growing foreign military presence in the region as a whole," Moiseyev said at the 14th international forum The Arctic: the Present and the Future.
Other factors behind the escalating tensions in the region include the increasing effort of the collective West to hinder Russia's economic operations in the region, territorial and economic claims, and the aspiration of other Arctic and non-regional states to resolve those claims exclusively to their own benefit, without taking Russia's interests into account.
"Our opponents, including the United States, have updated their Arctic strategies in recent years. They have an openly anti-Russian nature and mention the inadmissibility of the Northern Sea Route nationalization by Russia. Additionally, unfriendly states are increasing their military presence in the region," Moiseyev said.
The Arctic becomes a place of permanent military presence of unfriendly states, and the year 2024 has not been an exception in terms of the enhancement of their potential, he said.
"Viewing the Arctic as a potential conflict region, the United States and NATO intensified their military activity in the region. [...] The intensity of aerial reconnaissance and operations of reconnaissance and dual-use ships has increased. The number and scale of exercises in the region, which focus on large-scale operations, including those with carrier strike groups of the joint NATO naval forces and amphibious deployment training in the Arctic, have been growing," he said.
Unfriendly states focus their efforts on offensive, rather than defensive training missions, Moiseyev said.
"On the whole, the broadening military presence in the Arctic indicates the formation of military instruments for Russia's deterrence in the region. The United States has effectively included the Arctic in the NATO zone of responsibility, while statements by certain representatives of the military political administration and commands of the U.S. and NATO Armed Forces prove their intention to prevent Russia's dominance in the Arctic in every way possible, including the use of military force," Moiseyev said.