London plans to escalate military tensions in the Baltic and Black Sea regions, as well as in northern latitudes, said Alexander Gusarov, head of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s North Atlantic Department, reported TASS. “British strategists are looking for creative ways to unite their remaining allies in Europe around the idea of further escalating tensions with Russia,” he told the Kommersant newspaper. “They are primarily focused on escalating military tensions in the Baltic and Black Sea regions and militarizing the northern latitudes,” Gusarov added.
NATO, perhaps as part of that British strategy, is expecting to launch its Arctic Sentry mission “in the coming days,” Reuters reported on Feb. 9. NATO defense ministers are meeting in Brussels this week and may make an announcement afterwards. A NATO official told Reuters in an email that the mission is “part of the Alliance’s efforts to further enhance our deterrence and defence in the region, particularly in light of Russia’s military activity and China’s growing interest in the High North.” The mission was expected to be operational soon, the official said.
