MOSCOW, December 18. /TASS/. Western countries are ramping up military activities in the Arctic region and seeking to restrain Russia, leading to a sharp rise in regional tensions, Russian Presidential Aide and Maritime Board Chairman Nikolay Patrushev stated.

"Climate change and technological advancements are opening up new opportunities for exploiting significant resource reserves and leveraging the Arctic region’s transportation potential. These developments make the Arctic increasingly appealing to both Arctic and non-Arctic states," Patrushev noted during a Maritime Board meeting.

As a result, according to Patrushev, "political tensions and rivalries in Arctic latitudes are steadily escalating." He added, "NATO member states’ military activity in the Arctic fuels the potential for conflict, while Western nations continue to pursue policies aimed at containing Russia’s influence in the region."

The Maritime Board chairman elaborated that sanctions imposed on Russia are hindering the progress of its Arctic projects. International cooperation through the Arctic Council and other global platforms has been frozen, and there are ongoing efforts to address Arctic issues without Russia’s involvement.

"Under these circumstances, Russia’s Arctic zone has become a critical area for advancing national interests and ensuring security. The longest segment of Russia’s state border—about 20,000 kilometers—runs through this region, and it must be guarded against increasingly frequent provocations from neighboring Arctic nations," Patrushev stressed.