West's Plan to Blockade the Baltic Sea, Including Adjacent Straits: Russian Presidential Aide

Nikolai Patrushev stressed that maritime logistics are of great importance to both Moscow and Beijing.

Moscow, October 12. /TASS/. Nikolai Patrushev, assistant to the Russian president and head of the Russian Maritime Board, said on a visit to China that Western countries are making plans to blockade the Baltic Sea and the straits leading to it, while other important shipping routes are also under threat.

Pointing out that maritime logistics is of great importance to both Moscow and Beijing, the assistant leader of Russia added: China is a recognized world leader in international commercial shipping.

"Western countries are trying to organize the interception of our ships. London and Brussels are drawing up plans to blockade the Baltic Sea and the straits leading to it. Other important shipping routes are also under threat," Patrushev stressed.

The head of the Russian Maritime Board also noted that the Strait of Malacca is vital to China, but shipping there can easily be disrupted. This can be done not only by naval forces but also through terrorist methods employed by the West. "Recognizing all these risks, Russia is developing a safe and cost-effective alternative to traditional routes - the trans-polar shipping corridor," he concluded.