Due to Canada's Russophobic policy, Russia does not see it as a partner for cooperation in the Arctic, but unlike Ottawa, Moscow is a self-sufficient player in the region and can choose who to work with. This was said by the Russian ambassador to the North American country, Oleg Stepanov, commenting on the statement of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney that Ottawa does not intend to cooperate with Moscow in the Arctic.
„These feelings are mutual. The Russophobic policy of the current and essentially interim Liberal cabinet formed under former Prime Minister Trudeau does not allow Russia to see Canada as a like-minded partner in important matters,“ said Stepanov.
“The important thing is that Russia, unlike Canada, is completely self-sufficient in the Arctic. We can independently choose who to be friends with and with whom to cooperate constructively, but Canada does not have this opportunity.“
Earlier on Friday, Carney said that the Canadian authorities do not intend to cooperate with Russia on Arctic issues, since it is not among the countries with similar thinking to theirs.
On March 14, Carney was sworn in as prime minister after Trudeau resigned as head of government and leader of the ruling Liberal Party of Canada. The Prime Minister announced that early parliamentary elections will be held in the country on April 28.
A possible Russian-American project for joint use of the Arctic could become a new challenge for European countries under Donald Trump in the US, reported the Sky television channel, which discussed the importance of the region to the world due to the location of minerals on its territory.
The Arctic has been called a "huge prize" because of its natural resources.