Russia will create 12 new military bases in the west of the country in response to the strengtheningNATO and its expected expansion into 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 Districtdeclared Sergueï Choïgou before the executives of his ministry and the army, without specifying the nature of these infrastructures or their size.
He pointed the growth of military threats on Russia’s bordersspecifically mentions the exercises ofNATO Defender of Europe conducted in western and southwestern Russia and in the Arctic.
Another threat mentioned by the Minister, applications for admission toNATO of our nearest neighbors, Finland and Sweden.
Vladimir Putin indicated that Russia’s response to this enlargement was decision-making according to the deployments ofNATO in these countries, but underestimated the importance of these expected adhesions.
Helsinki and Stockholm decided to join the Alliance because of Russia’s offensive against its Ukrainian neighbor, judging that Moscow was a threat when for decades, especially throughout the Cold War, the two countries made the choice of inequality.
Russia has said it launched attacks on Ukraine both to prevent an alleged genocide of the Russian-speaking population there and the expansion ofNATO.
Source: Radio-Canada
