Putin’s Arctic envoy says Russian military buildup about protecting own borders

OTTAWA – Vladimir Putin’s senior Arctic envoy is defending Russia’s military build-up in the Far North, saying it is not directed at Canada or any of its allies.

Anton Vasiliev, Russia’s ambassador at large for the Arctic, says Russia is solely concerned with defending its own vast northern regions, which are becoming more vulnerable due to climate change.

Vasiliev says Russia once had a naturally secure border of 20,000 kilometres of frozen ice, but that is literally melting way as temperatures rise in the Arctic.

He says that makes Russia more vulnerable to illegal encroachments from organized crime, terrorists and illegal migrants.

Vasiliev says Russia, Canada, the United States and the five other Arctic Council members all enjoy good military co-operation.

He also says Russia is encouraging its Arctic Council allies to bolster their military assets in the Arctic.