MOSCOW, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Russia has expressed serious concern over the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO's) accelerated militarization of the Arctic amid the alliance's calls for increased military support for Greenland, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

Responding to a question about NATO's reaction to recent statements by U.S. President Donald Trump on Greenland, including the alliance's reported plans for military operations on the island, the ministry said the situation in high latitudes is causing "the gravest concern."

Russia consistently adheres to the position that the Arctic should remain a territory of peace, dialogue and equal cooperation, it said.

As the largest Arctic state, Russia said it makes a significant contribution to the region's development and consistently advocates peace and stability in the North.

It added that it expects a similar approach from other countries and remains open to pragmatic cooperation in the Arctic with partners willing to engage in equal and respectful dialogue.

At the same time, the ministry said it sees no readiness within NATO to address Arctic issues constructively and regards the line pursued by the alliance toward escalating confrontation in the Arctic as "counterproductive and extremely dangerous." ■