MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Pedersen made the statement, posted on the Norwegian Foreign Ministry Twitter account, while attending the High North Dialogue conference held March 18-19. The annual event aims to foster dialogue on the Arctic region and increase information sharing between stakeholders in the Arctic.
The Arctic has vast oil and gas reserves, and has been a focus of attention for the five nations bordering the area – Russia, the United States, Canada, Norway and Denmark.
In December 2014, Russia unveiled a military doctrine prioritizing the protection of national interests in the Arctic. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia was not going to militarize the Arctic, but would take any necessary steps to ensure its defense capabilities in the region.
