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Russia has criticized NATO's plan to expand its presence in the Arctic, a resource-rich region that world powers increasingly view as a region of strategic importance, BTA reports.

Russia perceives NATO's actions regarding the northernmost region on Earth as negative, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, according to the Interfax news agency.

"Russia will protect its interests in an appropriate way," he added, citing security needs and "economic activities."

Stoltenberg: No fatigue!

NATO stands behind Ukraine

Moscow lays claim to 1.2 million sq km.

in the Arctic and in particular to raw materials such as oil and gas that are available there.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told German newspaper Welt am Sonntag over the weekend that "NATO must increase its presence in the Arctic."

Moscow is in the process of reopening Soviet-era bases and deploying its most advanced weapons there, such as supersonic missiles, he said.

China also has a growing interest in the Arctic, even though it is not an Arctic country, Stoltenberg also warned.

The Arctic includes parts of the territories of the United States, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Canada, Russia, Norway and Sweden, DPA recalls. 

Jens Stoltenberg and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau embarked on a three-day joint tour of the Arctic this month aimed at protecting Canada's part of the region.

With Finland and Sweden deciding to join the Western military alliance, Stoltenberg's visit to Canada also highlighted Russia's status as the only non-NATO Arctic state.

The US State Department announced on Friday that for the first time it will appoint an ambassador for special mandates for the Arctic region, DPA recalls.

Arctic

NATO and Russia