The senior diplomat from the Slavic nation denounced “a deliberate policy by NATO member countries to restrict freedom of navigation in the region.”

Using threats to submarine infrastructure as a pretext, they launched the Baltic Sentry mission, which has significantly deteriorated the political and military situation in the region and increased the risks of potential escalation and conflict, Korchunov stated.

The ambassador emphasized that it is imperative that all countries in the region respect the norms of international maritime law and act with discretion to guarantee commercial navigation and prevent war incidents.

The presence of the Baltic Fleet and other Russian forces in the area, he said, is “an important factor in ensuring freedom of navigation, both in the interests of the Russian Federation and other countries.”

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