UK: NATO talks on deterring Russia in the Arctic "business as usual"

Bloomberg News, citing people familiar with the plans, reported separately on Sunday that Germany, whose foreign and finance ministers are in Washington on Monday, will propose setting up a joint NATO mission to protect the Arctic region.

British transport minister Heidi Alexander told Sky News that talks on how to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Arctic were "business as usual".

"It's becoming an increasingly contested geopolitical region, with Russia and China...you would expect us to be talking to all our allies in NATO about what we can do to deter Russian aggression in the Arctic Circle," Alexander said.

Britain was, "committed to working with NATO allies to strengthen NATO's Arctic deterrence and defence," said a government spokesperson when asked about the Telegraph report.