Maslennikov told Izvestia newspaper that the warmoring alliance is increasingly conducting military maneuvers in the region and practicing attack scenarios in adverse weather conditions.

The Russian diplomat stated that the United States, Canada, and Denmark organized the Arctic Edge exercises in February and the Cold Response maneuvers, with 25,000 troops from 14 countries, in March. The three nations are planning nuclear deterrence training, as well as the use of drones and anti-drone systems in the fall.

The high-ranking official also mentioned that NATO began the new Arctic Sentry mission in February of this year, citing a supposed Russian threat.

The operation, he emphasized, aims to contain Russia and increase the bloc’s military presence in the Arctic region.

The military alliance officially states that it is preparing for defense and containment in the Arctic. But in fact, it is concentrating significant troops from non-Arctic countries, such as the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, and France.

Western media noted that a 12-member NATO state group is planning a new naval mission in the North Atlantic and the Arctic.

jdt/iff/nmr/gfa