Russia's Foreign Ministry answered to the request of Vestnik Kavkaza about the problems and challenges, created by NATO's steadily expanding eastward, which has already entered the post-Soviet space. The Russian Foreign Ministry stressed that the Alliance continues to fight non-existent threats, instead of confronting the real challenges of European security, as well as stirs the pot in the region.
"Despite the increased terrorist activity in Europe, NATO continues to concentrate its efforts on 'restraining' the non-existent 'threat from the East'. Of course, we are disturbed by the implementation of the plans of Brussels and Washington to increase a military presence in the Black Sea region, including the formation of a multinational mechanized brigade in Romania, this year's launch of a NATO mission to patrol the airspace of the western Black Sea, regular visits to its waters by ships of permanent naval groups of the Alliance and the US Navy, entering the ports of non-NATO countries, including Georgia and Ukraine," the press service of the Russian Foreign Ministry noted in the first place.
"The increase in the scale and quantity of exercises in the region also contributes to the escalation of tensions. Together with the ongoing construction of the US/NATO missile defense system in Europe it undermines not only regional but also strategic stability. It is also alarming that non-NATO countries are actively joined to militarization of the Black Sea area. The consistent line for NATO military's "mastering" of Georgia's territories for conducting exercises and placing military training facilities is certainly provocative and aimed to stir up the military-political situation in the Caucasus. It is also promoted by frank connivance by Washington and its allies of Tbilisi's revanchist aspirations," the department noted.
"In the absence of objective reasons, the alliance's choice in favor of strengthening the NATO military infrastructure near the Russian borders once again confirms the difficulties it faces in reorientation to counter real security challenges. It is evidenced by the reluctance or inability of the US and NATO to effectively support Afghanistan's government in the fight against drug production. Also noteworthy is the fact that an increasing number of narcotic drugs from Afghanistan are exported to Europe via Transcaucasia and Ukraine. We hope that sooner or later NATO will realize that schemes for strengthening security without, and against Russia, are not viable and only divert resources from combating modern threats," the Russian Foreign Ministry concluded.
