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Sergey Lavrov warns of catastrophic consequences from NATO's aggressive militarization of the Arctic region

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned that NATO's increasing military presence in the Arctic poses a direct threat to Russia's national security. Lavrov described the Alliance's activities, specifically the Arctic Sentry operation launched in February 2026, as aggressive in nature and capable of increasing the risk of incidents that could lead to a potentially catastrophic armed confrontation. While Russia maintains a significant military infrastructure in the region, Lavrov noted that the West is attempting to turn the Arctic into a new front of confrontation to contain Russia's development. He emphasized that Russia aims to preserve peace and stability while pursuing strategic cooperation with partners like China and India. Despite the growing militarization by NATO and the other Arctic actors, Lavrov stated that Russia remains a leading Arctic state and is ready to resume full-scale work on the Arctic Council, provided all parties act in good faith. The administration announced that the Arctic region accounts for at least 10% of Russia's gross domestic product.

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