NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has warned that Russian nuclear-powered and other submarines operating from the Kola Peninsula pose a threat to US security, particularly along the country’s East Coast.

Speaking at the Atlantic Future Forum, Rutte pointed to a significant increase in Russian military activity across the Arctic and the Far North. He highlighted Moscow’s reopening of deep-water ports dating back to the Soviet era, along with ongoing tests of advanced weapons systems.

According to the NATO chief, Russian nuclear submarines based on the Kola Peninsula are primarily intended to threaten the eastern United States rather than Russia’s immediate neighbors.

Rutte explained that NATO members are working together to prevent Russian submarines from entering the North Atlantic. He stressed the strategic importance of the region, which serves as a vital maritime connection between the alliance’s European and North American members.

The NATO secretary general also outlined steps being taken to strengthen the alliance’s military presence in the Arctic. These include additional military exercises and expanded surveillance capabilities designed to monitor developments across the region.

Protecting transatlantic shipping routes remains one of NATO’s central security priorities, Rutte emphasized. He argued that maintaining control over the security situation in the North Atlantic is particularly important for safeguarding the alliance’s member states.

His remarks highlight NATO’s growing focus on Russian submarine operations in northern waters and the security of maritime routes connecting Europe with North America.