MOSCOW, October 23. /TASS/. NATO Military Committee Chair Admiral Rob Bauer’s statement about readiness for conflict with Russia in the Arctic is an attempt to justify the bloc’s presence in the region, Nikolay Korchunov, Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador-At-Large and Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials of the Arctic Council, told reporters.

"I believe the statement is not based on any serious and fundamental analysis of Russia’s position in the Arctic region; it is clearly an attempt to justify the need for NATO’s presence in the Arctic," he pointed out.

Bauer told reporters earlier that growing Russia-China relations increased the risk of conflict with NATO in the Arctic. He added that NATO must be prepared for conflict in the region given Russia’s ability to operate in the Arctic.