During the open lecture on Russia’s foreign policy, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that he could see no need for NATO presence in the Arctic.
‘From time to time, we have heard talks on NATO wishing to grow its presence in the region, long before the events in Ukraine. They continue to claim this. NATO doctrines periodically mention the military factor will increase in the Arctic in the context of increased competition for resources,’ said the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.
According to Lavrov, Moscow firmly believes that the Arctic has no problems that require any involvement of NATO, moreover, there are no problems that require military solutions. As stressed by the Minister, the Arctic is a territory of dialogue, and the work of the Arctic Council is carried out in this direction, reports ITAR TASS.
‘There is an objective understanding among all Arctic countries that we are all interdependent, that we are facing common tasks, involving both preservation of the environment and the need to ensure safety of transport routes within the Northern Sea Route. We all are interested in cooperation to defend our applications to the Commission on delimitation of the continental shelf,’ said Sergei Lavrov.