Moscow-Sana
MOSCOW - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday expressed Moscow's concern over the growing presence of NATO in Norway, saying it would take this into account while drawing up its military plans.
Sputnik quoted Lavrov as telling reporters during a meeting with his Norwegian counterpart Ine Eriksen Sørde: “We discussed the security situation in northern Europe with transparency and professionalism. "We are in the process of being militarized by the Arctic, which has always been opposed by all members of the Arctic Council."
“We are witnessing with concern the increased presence of NATO on Norwegian territory and the modernization of airports to meet the needs of the coalition as well as seaports to accept US nuclear submarines,” Lavrov said. To take this into consideration while working on our military planning. ”
"Russia is doing the absolute minimum of what it has to do to feel safe," he said.
The Russian foreign minister noted that his Norwegian counterpart had presented its arguments, including commitments under NATO, but stressed that the essence of the political track retains its importance. "We expect this to be the case," he said.
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on October 19 that Moscow would respond politically and militarily to NATO's attempts to deploy military bases near the Russian border as they threaten the national security of the country.
"Today we are celebrating 75 years of the liberation of northern Norway from the Nazis, while the coup in Ukraine was decisive by neo-Nazi groups," Lavrov warned of growing neo-Nazi sentiment in Europe.
The Russian minister also pointed to the need to build joint cooperation and security architecture in Europe.
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