NATO Secretary General Rutte announced the alliance's Arctic plans without mentioning Russia

Rutte announced the plans of the alliance countries for the entire Arctic, without mentioning Russia as the largest Arctic power.

Rutte expressed confidence that NATO countries are capable of independently determining the contours of security in the Arctic, while noting the participation of the United States, Canada and the five European countries of the alliance bordering the Arctic.

WASHINGTON, September 24 - RIA Novosti. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte did not mention Russia as the largest Arctic power when announcing the plans of the North Atlantic Alliance countries for “the entire Arctic.”

Speaking on Fox News, Rutte expressed confidence that the alliance countries are capable of single-handedly determining the contours of security in the Arctic. He actually left Moscow out of the picture, ignoring the fact that Russia has the longest coastline in the region.

“In the meantime - and this is exactly what we discussed in Davos - we see NATO countries collectively taking responsibility for the entire Arctic region. This includes the United States and Canada, as well as the five European countries of the alliance bordering the Arctic,” Rutte argued, adding that this supposedly realizes the vision of a “safe Arctic.”

Earlier, the Russian Ambassador to Ottawa Oleg Stepanov said in an interview with RIA Novosti that discussing the future of the Arctic is impossible without Russia, and attempts by Western countries to slow down the work of the Arctic Council will remain on their conscience.