Russia threatens NATO with “catastrophic consequences” of activities in the Arctic

Russia has issued a stark warning to NATO, threatening “catastrophic consequences” if the military alliance continues operations in the Arctic and intensifies its involvement in Ukraine.

Yulia Zhdanova, acting head of the Russian delegation to the Vienna negotiations on military security and arms control, told Russia’s state news agency RIA Novosti yesterday: “NATO has long been preparing for a potential military clash with Russia, constantly developing possible options – from the Arctic to the Black Sea.”

“At the same time, very provocative steps are being taken towards Ukraine, the range of the supplied missiles is constantly increasing and rhetoric about the possible sending of NATO troops to Ukraine persists (here, by the way, France is again eager).

“This ‘game’ could get out of control and lead to an escalation of conflict with disastrous consequences.”

Newsweek asked NATO and the Russian Ministry of Defense for comment via email.

The Arctic has become a geopolitical hotspot in recent years, with both NATO and Russia increasing military activity in the region, which is rich in untapped resources and has significant strategic importance.

Russia and NATO’s Arctic rivalry is rooted in the region’s geopolitical and economic importance, as climate change opens previously inaccessible areas to shipping and resource extraction.

As the ice melts, new shipping routes are created, shortening travel times between Europe, Asia and North America.

The Arctic is believed to have vast reserves of oil, gas and minerals, making it a focal point of the economic interests of world powers.

As tensions rise between Russia and NATO over its support for Ukraine in its defense against the ongoing Russian invasion, Kremlin officials have engaged in a war of words with the international bloc.

NATO allies are working to provide military assistance to Ukraine, but the deployment of any form of “boots on the ground” could raise fears of further escalation.

Moscow has repeatedly tried to portray its invasion as a proxy war between Russia and the international bloc.

In September, Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of Russia’s State Duma, the lower house of parliament, accused NATO of helping Ukraine choose Russian cities as targets.

“The United States, Germany, England and France are discussing the possibility of conducting long-range strikes on the territory of our country,” Volodin wrote. “This is nothing more than an attempt to camouflage and hide their direct participation in hostilities. In fact, the United States and its allies are trying to afford to carry out acts of aggression with missiles against Russia.”

Volodin did not provide any evidence to support his claims in the Telegram post.

Just last month, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko warned that nuclear weapons would be used against NATO if it attacked his nation or Russia.

The Belarusian leader said that Russia’s nuclear doctrine has been changed and provides for the use of nuclear weapons in the event of an attack on any country.

“As I said at the patriotic forum (September 17), an attack on Belarus will trigger World War III. Vladimir Putin recently confirmed this by changing the nuclear doctrine. An attack on Russia and Belarus will trigger a nuclear reaction,” Lukashenko said in September.

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