Lavrov Says NATO Military Activity in Arctic Threatens Russia’s Security

NATO military activity in the Arctic poses a direct threat to Russia’s security and could lead to disastrous consequences, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov wrote in an article published by the Russian Foreign Ministry on Monday.

In February, NATO conducted Arctic Sentry, a large-scale military exercise in the Arctic and High North regions, amid concerns over the threat posed by both Russia and China. Russia, which has a naval fleet in the Arctic that includes nuclear-armed submarines dating back to the Soviet era, has long viewed the region as its sphere of interest.

“Intensive military preparations are underway in close proximity to our northern borders,” Lavrov said. “NATO is conducting large-scale military exercises involving non-regional countries and introducing new components of its command-and-control system.”

He said such activity increases the “risk of incidents that could trigger an armed confrontation with potentially disastrous consequences.”

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said in February that Arctic Sentry was launched as a result of “Russia’s increased military activity, and China’s growing interest in the High North.”

Lavrov said the West was also attempting to undermine Russia’s international cooperation in the Arctic with countries from the “Global Majority,” a term the Kremlin often uses to describe African and Asian countries.

Last month, at the NATO summit in Turkey, U.S. President Donald Trump again pressed for the United States to take control of Greenland, which he said has become a national security concern because of increasing Russian and Chinese influence in the Arctic.

‘Landmark’ Shipping Voyage

Moscow is keen on developing the Northern Sea Route, an Arctic shipping corridor that creates a shortcut between Europe and Northeast Asian markets, including China, South Korea and Japan. It could cut the time for a container ship by 10 days compared with the regular route via the Indian Ocean and the Suez Canal, according to the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy.

In his article, Lavrov said a “landmark event” in Arctic shipping occurred on Aug. 19.

“For the first time, a container ship from China arrived at the port of Murmansk via the Northern Sea Route, a vital part of the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor,” he said.

The Barents Observer reported that the vessel was the Xin Xin Hai-1, a cargo ship that sails under a Hong Kong flag.

Lavrov said the Arctic contributed at least 10 percent of Russia’s GDP and was home to more than 2.5 million Russian citizens.

“There are prospects for interaction in the Far North with Brazil, Indonesia, Iran and other BRICS countries,” Lavrov said, referring to an economic bloc which also includes India, Egypt, and Ethiopia.

“The vast resource, transport, and logistics potential of the Far North, its unique natural and climatic features, long-standing traditions of regional cooperation, and the rich cultural heritage of its indigenous peoples offer broad opportunities for advantageous partnership.”

Russia’s neighbor Norway said on Aug. 20 that it had expanded its Arctic brigade with an artillery battalion, an anti-aircraft battery, and a joint company.

“Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine and the worsening security situation underline the need to build up the Finnmark Brigade as quickly as possible,” the Norwegian Armed Forces stated.

Norway will also ignore the European Union’s demands for a moratorium on hydrocarbon exploration in the Arctic Circle and continue drilling for oil and gas in the Barents Sea, the country’s energy minister said last week.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has led to increased fear among NATO member countries in Scandinavia, the Baltic, and eastern Europe that Russia poses a renewed threat, and there has been an uptick in defense spending as a result.

Moscow has previously dismissed allegations that it poses a ​threat to NATO.

Reuters contributed to this report.