Lavrov explains increasing Russia’s military presence in the Arctic
© RIA Novosti. Eduard Pesov

Lavrov explains increasing Russia’s military presence in the Arctic

The safety of the Northern Sea Route cannot be ensured without restoring the infrastructure, including the military infrastructure that was almost completely lost in the 1990s, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with the Mongolian, Japanese and Chinese media on Tuesday.

"With such active interest in this international route along the Russian borders, we, as a littoral state, bear a special responsibility for ensuring not only the route's effectiveness but also its safety. It is essential to ensure reliable and effective control not only over sea areas but also over the coast along these areas," RIA Novosti quoted the minister as saying.

Lavrov said that there is a need for an effective capability to respond to emergencies that might occur, including search and rescue operations and the need to be ready to deal with terrorist threats.

"Today, there is no getting away from these bandits or from the need to control possible smuggling, drug trafficking and other activities related to organized crime. All of these objectives cannot be achieved without restoring the infrastructure, including the military infrastructure that was almost completely lost in the 1990s," the minister said.