New Delhi, Aug. 1 -- OSLO - The safety channels designed to prevent a dangerous military encounter between Russia and Norway in the Arctic are no longer functioning as intended.

That is the blunt assessment of Russia's Ambassador to Norway, Nikolai Korchunov, who told RIA Novosti on Friday that the incident prevention frameworks the two countries have relied upon have been effectively disabled, attributing the breakdown to Norway and its NATO allies.

"The mechanisms designed to prevent dangerous incidents are not fully operational," Korchunov said, "as the Norwegian side and its NATO allies are following the path of escalation in the Arctic, increasing the risks and escalating conflict."

The statement arrived days after Russia conducte...