Norway’s Defence Minister Tore Sandvik has warned that Vladimir Putin is building up nuclear weapons and submarines in the Arctic, preparing for potential conflict with NATO.

He said Russia is expanding its military presence on the Kola Peninsula, home to one of the world’s largest nuclear arsenals, aimed not only at Norway but also the UK, Canada, and the US.

Despite heavy losses in Ukraine, Russia’s powerful submarine fleet and “second-strike” nuclear capability remain intact, reinforcing its global threat, the Daily Mail has reported.

Sandvik cautioned that melting Arctic ice could spark fierce competition over new shipping routes, which Russia may seek to control to block NATO supply lines.