Putin's aide decries Western military presence near Russia’s Arctic borders

Western countries are increasing their military presence near Russia's borders in the Arctic to bolster their positions in the growing competition for resources, according to Nikolai Patrushev, Russian presidential aide and chairman of the Russian Maritime Board.

“Western countries are building up their military presence in high latitudes, near our country’s borders, to reinforce their own positions within the framework of the intensifying global competition for Arctic resources and spaces,” Patrushev stated during the first meeting of the Council of the Russian Maritime Board on protecting Russia's national interests in the Arctic, Caliber.Az reports citing Russian media.

He also expressed the view that “the sanctions restrictions imposed are aimed at disrupting the implementation of Russian Arctic projects.”

Patrushev cautioned that despite the seeming stability, the situation in the Arctic is marked by rising negative trends. “Given that the West has taken a course to contain Russia in the region, they perceive our country’s successes in the Arctic Circle as painful,” he remarked.

The presidential aide further accused the West of using environmental concerns as a tool to exert pressure on Russia. “At the same time, a large-scale information and propaganda campaign has been launched to accuse our country of being unable to ensure safe exploration and development of the region. Environmental issues are used as a tool to put pressure on us,” Patrushev said.

In his view, “all this creates direct threats to the realization of national interests and ensuring Russia’s national security in the Arctic region.”

Patrushev also underscored the strategic significance of the Arctic for Russia, noting that it “has a significant impact on ensuring Russia’s geopolitical and geo-economic positions in the world, on the dynamics of its internal development.”

He explained that the seas of the Arctic Ocean, which wash Russia’s coast — including the waters of the Northern Sea Route — are a critical area for safeguarding the country’s national interests.

“Acceleration of economic and infrastructural development of the Arctic, preservation of our country’s inalienable control over the Arctic territory, as well as the shelf and the Northern Sea Route, is one of the key priorities of the national maritime policy,” Patrushev emphasized.

Meanwhile, thousands of NATO soldiers are participating in large-scale artillery exercises in Finland’s Arctic this month, which some see as a signal to neighbouring Russia over its ongoing war in Ukraine.

Sounds of cannon fire and rocket artillery echo across the Lapland as approximately 3,600 soldiers from the United States, Sweden, the United Kingdom, France, and other NATO members conduct live fire drills throughout November.

These exercises are part of NATO’s largest artillery exercise ever held in Europe, named Dynamic Front 25, which also includes drills in Estonia, Germany, Romania, and Poland. The total number of soldiers involved across all locations is around 5,000.

By Tamilla Hasanova