00:00Russia says NATO's growing military presence in the Arctic is a direct threat to its security.
00:06Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says NATO's military exercises in the region are aggressive
00:11and could increase the risk of an armed confrontation.
00:16The warning from Lavrov comes as NATO steps up its military activity in the Arctic.
00:22In February, the alliance launched Arctic Sentry to strengthen its presence in the far north.
00:27Russia already has the largest military presence in the Arctic,
00:31including nuclear-armed submarines and extensive military infrastructure.
00:35Moscow also sees the region as key to its economic interests,
00:39including a shipping route it is developing to connect with Asia.
00:43But the military build-up isn't just about Russia and NATO.
00:46China has also been expanding its activity in the resource-rich region,
00:51including through cooperation with Moscow.
00:53And NATO members are boosting their own defences.
00:56Norway, which shares a border with Russia,
00:59expanded a military brigade in the Arctic this month.
01:02The Arctic is also drawing greater attention from Washington,
01:06with President Donald Trump repeatedly pushing for the United States to acquire Greenland.
