Russia will create twelve new military bases in the west of the country in response to the strengthening of NATO and its expected enlargement to Finland and Sweden, the Russian Defense Minister announced on Friday.
“By the end of the year, 12 military bases and units will be deployed in the Western Military District,” Sergei Shoigu told officials of his ministry and the army, without specifying the nature of these. infrastructure or their size.
He noted “the growth of military threats on Russian borders”, citing in particular the NATO exercises “Defender Europe” in progress in the West and South-West of Russia as well as in the Arctic.
Another threat cited, “the applications for NATO membership from our close neighbours, Finland and Sweden”.
Vladimir Putin had indicated that the Russian response to this enlargement would be decided on the basis of NATO deployments in these countries, but downplayed the importance of these expected memberships.
Helsinki and Stockholm decided to join the Alliance because of the Russian offensive against its Ukrainian neighbor, judging that Moscow was a threat while for decades, especially during the entire Cold War, the two countries had chosen no -alignment.
Russia said it launched its assault on Ukraine both to prevent an alleged genocide of Russian-speaking populations there and to prevent NATO expansion.
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