Putin denounces NATO's post-Soviet expansion as ‘pointless’
Russian President Vladimir Putin has denounced NATO’s continued expansion following the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union as “pointless.”
Speaking at a meeting of Russian military leaders in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi on Tuesday, Putin said that the expansion of the Western military alliance posed a threat to Russia.
The Russian president also censured NATO for “acting inappropriately, not to say rudely, without taking into account Russia’s interests.”
Putin argued that the alliance was outdated, saying, “Bloc stereotypes of thinking of previous years cannot be an effective tool for seeking and taking effective decisions in the fast-changing conditions of the modern world.”
While the Warsaw Pact on collective defense signed between the former Soviet Union and European countries no longer exists, NATO is still growing, the Russian president said.
Putin did not make any secret of his stance toward NATO’s expansion into former Soviet republics, either.
Russia is “obliged to view NATO expansion, the development of its military infrastructure close to (Russian) borders as one of the potential threats to our country’s security,” he said.
Despite tensions, Putin said Russia remained ready to cooperate with the military alliance. “We have repeatedly expressed readiness to jointly resist real threats.”
The president named these common threats as “international terrorism, local armed conflicts, [and] the danger of uncontrolled proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.”
The comments came as an ongoing key summit of the leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is underway in the British capital, London, mostly with the aim of reviewing demands by US President Donald Trump for extra spending from other member states along with an alleged growing threat members perceive to be posed from Russia.
The military alliance has been increasingly beefing up its presence in Eastern Europe and near Russian borders.
Last year, some 19 countries, mostly from NATO, stationed around 18,000 troops in Poland and the three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. A multi-national NATO battle group conducted military drills under US leadership in Poland while Germany, Britain, and Canada led the operations in the three other countries.
Russia has been wary of NATO’s increased build-up near its borders while accusing countries like Poland of opportunism by trying to have a permanent NATO presence on their soil.
China warns Ukraine over 'irresponsible' claim of Chinese soldiers in war
World growing tired of endless threats against Iran: Russia
Russia’s State Duma approves 20-year strategic partnership treaty with Iran
VIDEO | Negotiations in Oman
VIDEO | German Conference sheds light on Scholasticide in Gaza
Iraq warns Daesh threats `resurging’ in Syria
Iran petroleum minister in Iraq to discuss enhanced energy cooperation
Iran: US talks focus on lifting ‘cruel sanctions’; no direct engagement amid threat, pressure
VIDEO | Nanostrike: Yttrium-90 and the fight against cancer
VIDEO | Iran-US indirect talks
VIDEO | An Insider's View of Iran: Kahak Village and Tehran Churches
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
