NATO's Arctic Activities, Warning for Global Security

TEHRAN (Defapress) - The Arctic is one of the sensitive areas that has become a place of competition between great powers. In this regard, China and Russia announced in a joint statement in March 2024 that they are committed to maintaining the Arctic as a territory of peace and constructive cooperation.

The Russian Ministry of Defense also announced in a statement shortly after that the two bombers flew in the airspace of the neutral waters of the Chukchi Sea and performed aerial refueling. MiG-31, Su-30SM, and Su-35S fighters were responsible for escorting these bombers. Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry noted that the country's military regularly carries out missions over the neutral waters of the Arctic, the North Atlantic, the Black Sea, the Baltic Sea, and the Pacific Ocean.

On the other hand, Nikolay Korchunov, Head of the Arctic Council Committee at the Russian Foreign Ministry, said that we do not see any signs of improving military security in the Arctic. NATO expansion in the region continues, and the area of ​​the alliance's military exercises there is increasing, with non-Arctic countries actively participating in them. Their military potential in high latitudes continues to grow.

At the same time, the Russian diplomat accused Western countries of moving towards hostile relations, confrontation, and the development of their interests in the Arctic to the detriment of the interests of other countries. Under such conditions, there is a possibility of an escalation of tensions in the region. He also stated that several strategic documents of some Arctic countries portray the Russian Federation as an enemy and a threat to their security.

Most importantly, Russian President Vladimir Putin, at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok on September 12, indicated that the Arctic is important for Russia and stated that the development of the Arctic, in addition to the development of the Far East, is a strategic priority for Russia.

Following these statements by the Russian President, Nikolai Korchunov, Ambassador of the Russian Foreign Ministry for Special Affairs and Chairman of the Arctic Council Committee, said in a speech that the strategy of strengthening NATO’s military capabilities in this region, which includes the accession of Finland to the alliance and the possible membership of Sweden, indicates the prevalence of aggressive strategies in NATO to ensure its security in the northern latitudes, even if it is to the detriment of the security of other countries.

In the wake of developments in the Arctic, Vladislav Maslennikov, director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's European Affairs Department, said in an interview with RIA Novosti that Moscow is taking measures, including military-technical measures, to secure its interests in the Arctic, and that these measures are not directed against third countries.

The director of the European Affairs Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry warned that NATO exercises in the region have become increasingly large and aggressive, and noted that Russia will respond to any attempt to ignore its national security in the Arctic.

However, developments in the Arctic have become serious and dangerous when Admiral Alexander Moiseyev, commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy, announced at a local meeting that Western countries are strengthening their military presence in the Arctic and have increased their efforts to hinder Russian economic activities in the region.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, stating that the potential for Russia to clash with Western countries in the Arctic region is increasing, said that competition between different countries for access to the resources of the Arctic Ocean and control of vital sea and air communications in the region has intensified.

The Russian official called on Western countries to recognize Russia’s sovereignty over the Northern Sea Route and stated that new versions of NATO member states’ strategies in the Arctic are directed against Russia. Moiseyev announced the militarization of the Arctic as the doctrine for the region by America, Canada, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Norway, and France.

Finally, these developments are occurring at a time when international experts are warning about the transformation of the Arctic from a zone of cooperation into a scene of military competition, a process that could have consequences beyond this frozen region and affect global security.