OREANDA-NEWS. As stated by the Minister of the Navy Kenneth Braithwaite, quoted by the publication Breaking Defense, the US Navy will begin regular patrolling near the Russian coast in the Arctic to prevent "Moscow's advance in the Far North."

In his opinion, in the coming years, Washington will have to act "more persistently" in the Arctic in order to challenge Russian as well as Chinese "claims."

The minister said that "the sea routes in the North are becoming navigable now, the US Navy is going to guarantee its partners the full freedom of navigation in their territories." Such a plan Kenneth Braithwaite called "a bolder one", "right and duty" of the United States as "the dominant naval force in the world."

According to Braithwaite, the main advantage of the United States in the Arctic is its modern submarines. In his opinion, the US Navy will have to rent icebreakers from the Allies, while Russia has an numerous icebreaker fleet, and China is building ships at a pace that the United States "cannot match."

Earlier, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu also said that the United States is increasing the presence of warships in the Arctic. According to him, the military-political situation in the Arctic region is complicated by the rivalry of the leading countries of the world for access to resources and transport communications in this region. He noted that Russia is actively developing the Northern Fleet to strengthen its defense capability and ensure its national interests in the Arctic.

The Russian Foreign Ministry also expressed concern that the United States is increasing its military presence in the Arctic region, and noted that Moscow advocates that it remains a field for peaceful cooperation.