Putin says Arctic extremely important for ensuring Russia’s defense capabilities

MOSCOW, June 15. /TASS/. The Arctic is extremely important for ensuring Russia’s defense capabilities, the country should maintain border control there, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during his annual televised question and answer session dubbed The Direct Line. "Let us not forget the military aspect of the issue," Putin said. "The region is extremely important for ensuring the country’s defense capabilities. I do not want to alarm anyone, but experts know well that the US nuclear submarines are deployed to northern Norway, their missiles may reach Moscow in 15 minutes," the Russian president went on to say. "We all should understand what is going on there. We must protect this coast and ensure border control. In addition, as far as strategic weapons are concerned… hope that things will not come to that, but just in case, the US land-based missiles will fly over that area… This is what the Arctic is. We did not tackle this issue not because it was not important but because we were not able to do it and had to put it aside. Just like many other things vital for our country, unfortunately. But now we have addressed the matter again," Putin said. Besides, the Russian president said that in case the global warming trend remained, the navigation period in the Arctic region would last longer which was strategically important for Russia. "If climate changes and the global warming trend remains, then the navigation period in the Arctic region will last longer. It means, ships will be able to travel along the Northern Sea Route four to five months a year instead of the current a month and a half to two months," Putin said. Read more