Putin moves on Arctic Circle with nuclear fleet ‘for war on NATO’ | World | News

According to the Norwegian Minister of Defense, Russia is preparing for war with NATO by amassing attack submarines and nuclear weapons in the Arctic Circle. Tore Sandvik said his country was aware of Russia’s increasing arms production in the Kola Peninsula.

The peninsula is home to Russia’s Northern Fleet and is where part of the Kremlin’s nuclear arsenal is stored. The Norwegian minister also warned that Vladimir Putin wants to gain full maritime control in the Arctic region. This would make it easier for Russia to cut off NATO access to key shipping routes that would help supply Western powers in wartime.

“Russia is building on the Kola peninsula, where one of the world’s largest nuclear warhead arsenals is located,” he said. Telegram in an interview.

“Them [the nuclear weapons] “It’s being directed not just towards Norway, but towards the UK and across the pole towards Canada and the US.”

The Kola Peninsula is located on the northwesternmost flank of Russia in the Arctic Circle.

According to the Minister of Defense, the Northern Fleet is used to test new Russian weapons and help expand Putin’s nuclear capabilities.

Norwegian officials also believe Putin is trying to assert full control over two vital shipping routes that would be critical supply lines in the event of war.

The first of these is the strip of water between mainland Norway and the island of Svalbard known as Bear Gap. Russian ships have to pass through these waters to reach the Atlantic Ocean.

The second is the GIUK Gap, a double sea crossing point between Greenland, Iceland and the United Kingdom.

Mr. Sandvik said Putin needed to control Bear Gap so he could use his submarines and the Northern Fleet.

The Russian president also wants to prevent NATO countries from accessing the GIUK Gap.

He added that the Arctic Circle is likely to become the next “major security area” after the war in Ukraine.