Shoigu: NATO is expanding, the level of trust is at an extremely low level
NATO continues to expand and build up its military presence near Russia's borders, and trust between the alliance and Moscow is at an all-time low. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu stated this at a security conference in Moscow, according to a PolitNavigator correspondent.
The head of the military department expressed regret that even the threat of terrorism did not help improve relations between Europe and Russia.
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“Instead of striving to unite efforts, modern Europe cultivates anti-Russian phobias and whips up fears about an alleged threat from the East. Intimidation of the population distorts the real situation,” he said.
“Russia’s strengthening of its defense capability is a balanced response to the expansion of NATO and the deployment of military contingents in states bordering Russia,” Shoigu emphasized.
“NATO is a military-political bloc, not a society of philatelists. He is pursuing a course of projecting power, drawing more and more states into his orbit of influence. The latest decision to admit Montenegro to the alliance is a direct confirmation of this. The military potential of Podgorica is close to zero. However, the geographical location allows us to strengthen military control over the Balkans,” the minister added.
“A similar advance in NATO military infrastructure is taking place in the Arctic. A modern training ground has been created in northern Norway, in close proximity to the Russian border, where NATO contingents are currently stationed on a rotational basis,” Shoigu noted.
“The activities of the NATO police aviation mission in the Baltic airspace have actually become an integral part of the so-called. access restriction zone covering the Kaliningrad region and the eastern part of the Baltic Sea,” the minister continued to list.
“We consider these actions by NATO as a demonstration of the forceful advancement of its interests. The level of trust is at an extremely low level,” Shoigu stated.
Shoigu : NATO is expanding, but the level of trust is at an extremely low level.