Russia's nuclear-power submarines will continue under-ice navigation in the Arctic, a senior Navy official said on Friday.
"Russia's nuclear-powered submarines will maintain an operative regime in the Arctic waters to ensure security" the official said.
Russia's military presence in the Arctic is crucial to the "implementation of the country's foreign policy priorities," he said.
Russia and other countries with an Arctic coastline all lay claims to the region's seabed, said to contain one quarter of the world's mineral resources. The untapped riches are becoming more accessible due to melting ice.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin told a recent international conference in Moscow that the Arctic would not become a battleground as potential territory disputes could be resolved through negotiation.
MOSCOW, October 1 (RIA Novosti)
