Norway is NATO's monitor for the vast 2 million square kilometre area of the North Atlantic used by the Russian northern fleet's nuclear submarines. The area Norway monitors includes the waters between Svalbard and the mainland. Russia has in the past accused Norway of militarising Svalbard.

Russia has accused Norway of militarizing Svalbard in violation of a multilateral treaty. Norwegian authorities have denied the claim, NRK reports. Background Earlier today, Russia’s Foreign Ministry claimed that Norway is violating the 2020 Svalbard Treaty,

Russia accused Norway of militarising the Svalbard archipelago, a claim Norway denied in a comment to news agency NTB after Russia on Friday had summoned the Norwegian ambassador to Moscow over the matter.