MOSCOW, May 15. /TASS/. NATO’s involvement into the Arctic affairs is fraught with serious consequences for global security, Russia’s Permanent Representative at NATO Alexander Grushko said on Friday.
"So far, I don’t see NATO has any a clear strategy in the Arctic," he said. "From time to time, certain countries, forces in NATO try to throw an idea that there is a process of militarization in the Arctic, that the Arctic may soon become a battle-ground in a serious competition for resources, for the right to transport routes, that the global warming is to be reckoned with by the alliance member countries, that the alliance is dependent on energy and must secure access to energy resource in the Arctic."
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"But today, many states, first of all, members of the Arctic Council, proceed from the fact that the international community, the Arctic states have enough instruments to solve problems that might naturally emerge in this region by means of talks, cooperation and on the basis of international law," Grushko said.
"I believe that the policy of understanding that the Arctic region must not be militarized will get the upper hand and that NATO will not get involved in any games around Arctic problems," the Russian diplomat underscored. "It should be clear that NATO’s involvement into the Arctic affairs will be fraught with the most serious consequences for global security."