Zukunft acknowledged that such a position of Washington concerning the Northern sea route, will inevitably encounter rejection of Moscow

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The United States believes that the Northern sea route should be a thoroughfareopen to the entire world community. This was stated by TASS, the commander of the US Coast guard Admiral Paul Zukunft.

He confirmed that the American Armed forces still did not intend to conduct Arctic operations, defending the principle of freedom of navigation, just as it happens in the South China sea.

“Currently, there is no pressure directed to conduct exercises to ensure freedom of navigation in the Arctic. However… the approach of the US is that the Northern sea route should be open as an international corridor for water, if you will, a transit pass, as soon as we see the area liberated from ice. But now there is no established plan for conducting exercises to ensure the freedom of navigation [in the area],” said the American commander.

Zukunft acknowledged that such a position of Washington concerning the Northern sea route, will inevitably encounter rejection of Moscow. “This will require a significant dialogue in the future”, – said the head of the U.S. Coast guard, which is one of the five branches of the Armed forces of the United States along with the army, Navy, air force and marine Corps.

According to the Admiral, now the Northern sea route use the “a few ships”. “I think the main operators of the Northern sea route, will be (those vessels that transporterowych – approx. Ed.) natural gas produced on the Yamal Peninsula. (The participants in such economic projects) will seek to take full advantage of the relatively free from ice season to “cut” the path to European market. Especially in terms of [delivery] of liquefied natural gas from the Yamal Peninsula,” – said the Admiral, included in the chiefs of staff of the U.S. armed forces.