International tensions
Russia warns of armed conflict with NATO
“The alliance has switched to a practice of direct provocation”: Russia’s Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin. Photo: — / Saudi Press Agency / dpa
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NATO accuses Russia of an aggressive policy, Moscow, for its part, laments provocations by the military alliance. Is there a threat of an armed conflict?
In view of the tensions between Russia and NATO, the Ministry of Defense in Moscow has warned Western military attachés of the risk of armed conflict.
“Recently the alliance has switched to a practice of direct provocation, which poses a high risk of escalating into an armed confrontation,” Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin told diplomats in Moscow.
The ministry distributed a video showing Fomin informing foreign uniformed officers about Russia’s criticism of NATO. Accordingly, among the 105 attendees were representatives from 14 NATO countries.
Fomin accused NATO of a massive increase in military activities. In 2020 alone, the number of military flights on Russia’s borders rose from 436 to 710. Every year NATO also holds 30 major maneuvers with battle scenarios against Russia.
Fomin recalled Russia’s demands on NATO for security guarantees and an end to eastward expansion. He again warned of Ukraine’s possible membership of NATO. President Vladimir Putin recently threatened consequences if NATO should penetrate closer to Russia.
Dialogue expected from January 9th
The Kremlin and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow expect that there will be a dialogue with NATO on this after the Russian New Year break, which ends on January 9th. The NATO-Russia Council could meet for this purpose. A date has not been set.
Fomin said Russia would be ready to talk on an equal footing at any time. At the same time, he criticized the fact that NATO has for years rejected every offer of talks from Moscow and preferred the route of confrontation. Russia criticizes the fact that NATO has been moving military bases and weapon systems ever closer to Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union 30 years ago. In Eastern Europe alone, 13,000 soldiers from NATO countries, including 200 tanks and 30 planes and helicopters, are now permanently stationed.
NATO sees this as a deterrent to aggressive Russian policies, including against Ukraine. In addition, the military alliance is currently criticizing a Russian troop build-up near the Ukrainian border.