Russian President Vladimir Putin says Russia will defend its interests in the Arctic as geopolitical rivalries intensify in the region.
According to foreign media, after claiming that NATO member countries have sought the far north as a "base for potential conflicts," Putin says that NATO member countries have conducted an increasing number of military exercises in the Arctic.
He says Russia has "never threatened anyone in the Arctic," but "we are watching recent developments closely."
Saying that "the number of military personnel in the Arctic will increase," he adds: "We are developing our response capabilities by improving our military infrastructure."
"We will not allow the sovereignty of our country to be violated, we will defend our national interests," he further said.
However, he goes on to talk about the potential for cooperation with "friendly states...possibly including Western countries" in the Arctic region.
"I am confident that the time for such projects will definitely come," he said, A2CNN writes.
It should be noted here that the Russian leader is keen to increase trade through the Northern Sea Route and Arctic waters, while his country shifts trade towards Asia and away from Europe due to Western sanctions imposed on Russia following the war in Ukraine. (A2 Televizion)
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