Moscow, Russia

Head of Russian diplomacy He said on Monday that the Arctic is Russia’s sphere of influence and warned Western countries are against their ambitionsAfter a few days from an important regional forum.

“It was clear to everyone for a long time that this is our land and our land, and we are responsible for the security of our coast and everything we do there is completely legal and legitimate,” he said. Sergey Lavrov At a press conference.

“When NATO is trying to justify its attack in the ArcticIt is not the same situation and we have questions for our neighbors, such as Norway, who are trying to justify the arrival of the alliance to the North Pole, “stressing that the Great North is” our lands and waters. “

The statements take place on the eve of the beginning of a Arctic Council meetingIt is an area that attracts more and more economic and geopolitical interests.

The meeting includes Russia, the United States, Canada, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway and Iceland.

The Head of American diplomacy Anthony Blinken, He is also planning to meet Sergey Lavrov for the first time before A. Possible summit between Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin in June.

On the Arctic, Lavrov called for the revitalization of periodic meetings between the chiefs of staff of the member states of the Council “to reduce the risks at the military level.”

Russia has steadily increased its military presence in the Arctic In recent years, many bases and airports abandoned since the end of the Soviet era have reopened and improved.

It also deployed the latest S-400 air defense system there.

Russia’s interests conflict with those of its regional neighbors, including the United States, which this year sent strategic bombers for training in Norway and deployed ships last year in the Barents Sea, in Russia’s exclusive economic zone.