MOSCOW, Dec. 6 — Russia is taking all necessary measures to ensure its national security amid the growing presence and military activities of NATO member states in the Arctic region, a Russian diplomat said on Saturday. RIA Novosti quoted Russian Ambassador to Norway Nikolai Korchunov as saying that recent military preparations by Norway, Britain and other NATO countries on the alliance’s northern flank pose direct security risks to Russia, destabilize the Arctic region and increase the likelihood of dangerous incidents. “It is clear that the intensified militarization of Norway’s northern regions and the internationalization of military activity in the Arctic will not strengthen security but instead fuel military-political tensions and escalation,” Korchunov said. He stressed that these negative trends cause justified concern and compel Russia to take all necessary steps to safeguard its security. Britain and Norway signed a new defense cooperation agreement on Thursday. The agreement includes joint maritime patrols in waters between Greenland, Iceland, Britain and Norway to monitor movements of Russian Navy submarines. It also provides for increasing the number and duration of British Royal Marines deployments on Norwegian territory, and envisages the possible creation of supporting military infrastructure in the country’s northern regions.
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