Russian Deputy Prime Minister: 'Tanks Don't Need Visas'

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, with Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin (RIA Novosti/Aleksey Nikolskyi)

Defense News/AFP: Russian Official: 'Tanks Don't Need Visas'

MOSCOW — An outspoken deputy prime minister in charge of Russia's defense sector has dismissed Western concerns over Moscow's increased assertiveness in the Arctic by saying that "tanks don't need visas."

Dmitry Rogozin, who oversees the defense industry, is known for his hawkish remarks and enjoys rattling Western officials.

"I've always joked about it... so what if they won't give us visas, put us on sanctions list ... tanks don't need visas," Rogozin said on state TV late Sunday, after the host asked him whether Europe and the United States are concerned about Russia's presence in the Arctic.

Russia recently conducted huge military exercises in its Arctic north as it seeks to bolster its claims over the vast energy and mineral resources now increasingly accessible due to the receding ice caps.

WNU Editor: I met Dimitry Rogozin through my uncle about 10 years ago .... and he has not changed one bit over the years. When I first started this blog he was Russian ambassador to NATO .... and some of the comments he left on my Twitter feed still makes me shake my head when I think about it. His comment about "tanks without visas" .... I know that the Russian public just eats this up .... and I am willing to bet that even Putin is having a chuckle .... but for the rest of us .... with tensions as bad as they are .... this is not what we want to hear right now.