MOSCOW, November 22. /TASS/. Western countries are building up their military presence near Russian borders in the Arctic in order to better position themselves to get at the region’s rich natural resource base, Russian Presidential Aide, Chairman of the Maritime Board Nikolai Patrushev said.

"In order to bolster their own positions in the growing global competition for Arctic resources and space, Western countries are building up their military presence in high latitudes, near our country’s borders," Patrushev said during the first meeting of the Maritime Border Council on the protection of Russia’s national interests in the Arctic.

According to Patrushev, the "imposed sanctions restrictions are aimed at thwarting the implementation of Russia’s Arctic projects."

"Despite the apparent stability, the situation in the Arctic is characterized by growing negative trends," the presidential aide said. "Considering that the West has set a course of containing Russia in this region, our country’s success in the Arctic is a source of discomfort for them."

The presidential aide also accused the West of using the environmental agenda to pressure Russia.

"At the same time, a large-scale information and propaganda campaign has been initiated in order to accuse our country of being unable to ensure the safe exploration and development of the region. Environmental issues are being used as a tool of pressure on us," Patrushev noted.

In his opinion "all this creates direct threats to the implementation of national interests and ensuring Russia’s national security in the Arctic."