Putin Criticizes NATO for ‘Aggressive’ Activities, Rhetoric

By condemning NATO for its supposed ‘aggression’ towards Russia, Russian President Vladimir Putin claims his country is forced to increase its military capabilities in order to ‘defend’ itself from any provocation.

Putin was quoted as saying “NATO is stepping up its aggressive rhetoric and its aggressive actions close to our borders.” Without giving any clear specifics, Putin has made it clear that the Russia views NATO not as a potential partner but clearly as an adversary bent on destroying his country.

He continued, “In these conditions, we are obliged to dedicate special attention to resolving tasks connected with heightening the defense capabilities of our country.”

While speaking at an event that marked the 75th anniversary of the Nazi invasion of the former USSR, Putin has ratcheted up the anti-NATO rhetoric, blaming them for many of the problems that Russia has been facing even going as far as to say the ‘West’ is refusing to become international partners with Russia.

Both Russia and NATO have been at odds with each other since shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union, but the increased criticism and tensions between the two have been at unprecedented levels.

On the other hand, NATO claims that it was, in fact, Russia expansionism in Crimea and its involvement in Eastern Ukraine that necessitated the increased presence of NATO in Europe.

NATO members Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, all of which lie close to the Russian border, have shown great concern with Russia’s behavior fearful that they could suffer the same fate as Crimea.

Russia fervently rejects NATO’s expansion in Europe, even more so in former Soviet Union satellite states. As a result of NATO sending four battalions to the Baltic states near Russia, Russia has said that they will place three of their own troop divisions on its southwestern border to ‘counter’ such deployments.

This dangerous game of brinkmanship between NATO and Russia seems to have no end and if such behavior continues, it is possible that the tensions between them both could turn into something more serious as the stakes become higher.

Featured Image by en.kremlin.ru