Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused the United States of inflaming political and military tensions in the Arctic with its new regional strategy.
According to Zakharova, the U.S. Department of Defense document outlines a force-based approach to protect its interests in the Arctic, which could destabilize regional cooperation.
Zakharova highlighted Washington’s concern over the growing collaboration between Russia and China in the Arctic, suggesting that the U.S. is uncomfortable with this alliance and seeks to intervene in the cooperation between these states. The Russian diplomat emphasized that the U.S. stance could worsen international relations in a strategically important and sensitive region.
Additionally, Zakharova criticized the U.S. for attempting to influence Arctic cooperation, describing the strategy as a maneuver to maintain its dominance in the region in the face of increasing Russian and Chinese presence.
According to Russia, this U.S. attitude could lead to unnecessary escalation in an area that should be characterized by peaceful collaboration.