Russia to strengthen naval forces in Arctic, Atlantic: Kremlin

PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia will strengthen its naval forces in the Arctic and Atlantic as a response to NATO activities close to Russia's borders, the Kremlin says, according to BBC News.

Russia's plans are outlined in a new naval doctrine, launched on Sunday, July 26, as the nation celebrated Navy Day.

The navy will get a fleet of new icebreakers, because the Arctic region gives Russia unrestricted access to the Atlantic and Pacific, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said.

The Arctic is also rich in minerals.

The new doctrine calls for close co-operation with China in the Pacific region and India in the Indian Ocean.

At a ceremony by the Baltic Sea, attended by President Vladimir Putin, Rogozin said "the main emphasis is in two directions - the Arctic and Atlantic".

"The Atlantic emphasis is linked to the fact that recently there has been a quite active development of NATO and it has approached our borders. The Russian Federation will of course respond to that."

The ceremony took place at Baltiysk, a major naval base in Kaliningrad, a Russian territory sandwiched between NATO members Poland and Lithuania.

Rogozin, who oversees Russia's Arctic projects, said the situation in Crimea and Sevastopol was also a factor influencing Russia's new naval doctrine.