Russia does not rule out the possibility of protecting its national interests in the Arctic with military means as the region becomes the focus of attention from various countries, including those that do not have direct access to the Arctic Circle, Russia’s defense minister said Wednesday, according to Sputnik news agency.
"Some developed countries that do not have direct access to the Arctic Circle are taking certain political and military steps to gain such access," Sergei Shoigu said at a meeting with senior military commanders in Moscow.
Therefore, Russia considers its permanent military presence in the Arctic and the possibility of protecting national interests in the region with military means as part of its national security policy, the minister added.
Shoigu noted that a military contingent deployed on the Chukotka Peninsula in Russia's Extreme North is being strengthened to ensure the protection of the vital Northern Sea Route and the prompt response to potential threats in the Arctic.