Russia is ready to defend its interests in the Arctic, including through military actions if necessary, as NATO expands military exercises in the region, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said according to Russian news agencies. "We observe how NATO is stepping up its exercises in a hypothetical crisis situation in the Arctic. Our country is completely ready to protect its interests in military, political, and military-technical terms," Lavrov said in an interview for the documentary series *Soviet Breakthrough*, Xinhua news agency reported.
Lavrov's words take place against the backdrop of ratcheting up tensions in the Arctic, where NATO has increased its presence.
The US Department of Defence recently issued a revised edition of its Arctic Strategy, which was released during July. According to this book, the department intends to conduct joint military exercises with allies to "demonstrate combat readiness and operational interoperability." The strategy further intended to associate itself with partners as well as with local industries and Alaska's native tribes when dealing with matters of strengthening "integrated deterrence and increasing shared security" in the region.
Pursuant to the Pentagon's strategy, the US and its allies will roll out more than 250 new multi-role combat aircraft that would eventually be available for use in Arctic by the 2030s.
Earlier this month, aide to the Russian president and Collegium chairman of Maritime Affairs Nikolai Patrushev said the US and its allies continue pressure from all sides of Russia's borders and never stop testing the capabilities of its Defense. The US side is accused by Patrushev of pursuing an agenda of militarisation in the Arctic, trying to hamper economic activities of Russia in northern regions.
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