At a meeting of the Russian Navy’s Strategic Development Council, Nikolai Patrushev, Chairman of the Russian Maritime Board, stated that Western states, faced with the ineffectiveness of sanctions pressure against Russia, have begun to carry out planned provocations step by step in various sections of the Transarctic Transport Corridor: in the Arctic, the Barents and Baltic Seas, as well as in the Pacific Ocean.
He emphasized that direct attacks on Russian vessels, maritime infrastructure facilities, and even foreign ships – with subsequent blame shifted onto Moscow – cannot be ruled out.
Key points of his address:
- The Baltic Sea is turning into an area of military-political instability due to NATO’s actions.
“It is already evident today that Western countries are undertaking various actions to obstruct the implementation of this project (the Transarctic Transport Corridor), which gives Russia a unique opportunity to work and develop under sanction pressure aimed at paralyzing Russian trade.
The West has already begun to implement planned provocative actions step by step in various sections of the Transarctic Transport Corridor. To block the Baltic for Russian merchant shipping, Brussels has launched the “Baltic Sentinel” mission, which could be transformed into a blockade mission at any moment.
Understanding that the main volume of Russia’s seaborne foreign trade cargo traffic flows through the Russian Northwest, our adversaries are initiating a hunt for Russian vessels and third-country vessels carrying our cargo. They are preparing and conducting provocations, attempting to unilaterally revise the norms of international maritime law, and are also actively militarizing the Baltic Sea.
Provocations involving direct attacks on Russian vessels and maritime infrastructure, as well as on foreign vessels and facilities with subsequent blame being placed on Moscow, cannot be ruled out”.
“As a result of the efforts of NATO countries, the Baltic Sea region is transforming from a once peaceful area into one of military-political instability.
The deliberate destruction of the Nord Stream pipelines demonstrates that the West is even prepared to carry out acts of terror.”
2. The accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO has radically altered the geopolitical landscape of the Arctic and the Baltic region, while Poland is demanding a revision of international shipping norms in the Baltic Sea, declaring it has become “NATO’s internal sea.”
“The United States and France have developed and approved their own Arctic strategies. Britain has designated the Arctic as a region of critical importance for its security, developing its submarine fleet and cooperation with Arctic allies.
The accession of Sweden and Finland to the NATO bloc in 2023 radically changed the geopolitical landscape of the Arctic.
Now seven out of the eight Arctic countries are NATO members.
NATO countries are attempting to devise their own interpretations of International Maritime Law in order to regulate the passage of our vessels through the Danish Straits at their own discretion, and to stop them in other areas of the Baltic Sea, for example, under the pretext of environmental inspections.
The Polish Minister of Defense openly called for a revision of what he considers outdated shipping rules in the Baltic Sea, justifying his position by stating that after Sweden and Finland joined NATO, the Baltic Sea has become an internal sea of the Alliance”.
3. Western countries are discussing the state-level legitimization of maritime piracy and are actively deploying modern technologies under unified NATO command.
“I would like to remind you that NATO forces are actively developing and testing the latest unmanned surface vehicles and autonomous underwater vehicles, capable of operating covertly and delivering surprise strikes against virtually any surface or subsurface targets.
Furthermore, constant environmental monitoring is being conducted, including using unmanned technologies.
The naval forces of Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, and Germany are being actively bolstered with the most modern technologies.
They are practicing collective actions under unified NATO command.
Since last year, a NATO Regional Maritime Component Command has been operational in Rostock, Germany.This means we must account for the Alliance’s combined potential in the Baltic, not to mention its ability to be reinforced by fleets from non-regional NATO states.
There is also information that the West plans to involve private military companies to enhance control over the movement of sanctioned vessels.
Discussions are also underway about reviving the practice of issuing letters of marque (privateer’s certificates) – essentially state-sanctioned piracy. This threat must also not be underestimated”.
4. Western countries are challenging Russia’s jurisdiction over the Northern Sea Route and regularly conduct provocative actions in the Arctic.
“In the Russian Arctic zone, the West has long been implementing a range of political, legal, military, and economic measures aimed at disrupting our Arctic development plans, including challenging Russian sovereignty over the Northern Sea Route. The West is making serious efforts to alter the military-political configuration in the High North, including through the involvement of extra-regional players.”
“The core political assertion of the collective West regarding the Northern Sea Route is that Russia holds no special rights over this passage, and the provisions enshrined in our legislation designating it as a national transport artery are illegitimate from the standpoint of international law.
Based on this premise, the US Navy regularly conducts provocative so-called ‘freedom of navigation’ operations in the region.
NATO forces are actively training their surface and submarine fleets in high-latitude operations, honing their execution of expeditionary missions and reconnaissance-sabotage activities.
Of particular concern is the increasing frequency of NATO warships entering the Barents Sea and conducting flights near Russian bases.
The growing military activity of the US and NATO in the Arctic space heightens the risk of incidents, which could lead to an uncontrolled escalation of tensions.”
5. The United States and Japan could escalate tensions in the Bering Strait in the event of a deterioration in the military-political situation.
“Despite the existing legal framework in the Bering Strait governed by bilateral agreements, should the military-political situation deteriorate, the US and Japan are fully capable of escalating tensions here.
Currently, Tokyo is circumventing post-World War II restrictions to bolster its carrier fleet, submarine forces, and missile capabilities.
This indicates that geopolitical tensions in the northern Pacific Ocean will continue to rise, inevitably creating risks for the safe operation of the Transarctic Transport Corridor and, more broadly, the Russian Far East”.
Nikolai Patrushev emphasized that Western countries are making concerted efforts to disrupt Russia’s Transarctic Transport Corridor project, as its launch will significantly bolster Russia’s economic and political influence. Therefore, ensuring the security of this project becomes a paramount state task.
He stated that extensive work is underway on strategic deterrence, monitoring, and preventing violations of Russia’s state border by foreign vessels and aircraft. Patrushev outlined the necessity of developing a comprehensive approach to safeguard navigation along the entire Transarctic Corridor, encompassing political-diplomatic, military, economic, and legal measures.
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
