Russia’s Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Alexander Moiseyev warned Tuesday that the security environment in the Arctic is worsening, accusing the United States and NATO allies of escalating military activity and undermining regional stability.
Speaking at the 15th International Forum Arctic: Today and the Future in St. Petersburg, Moiseyev said Western nations increasingly view the Arctic as a potential conflict zone rather than a region for cooperation. He linked the shift to competition over natural resources and control of strategic maritime and air routes.
Moiseyev said Russia has observed a steady rise in foreign military presence and Western efforts to restrict its economic activity. He noted that NATO’s enlargement through Finland and Sweden’s accession has allowed the United States to extend its military footprint on the Scandinavian Peninsula, moving closer to Russia’s borders.
Western countries are building military infrastructure in northern latitudes, Moiseyev said, describing the expansion as the creation of “military instruments aimed at deterring Russia in the Arctic.”
Rejecting Western claims of Russian militarization, he added: “It is not we who are approaching their borders. They are approaching ours.”