Russian Envoy Warns NATO Eastern Flank Buildup Undermines Regional Security

Russia’s Permanent Representative to NATO said the coalition plans to boost its military strength on its eastern flank close to Russia will only serve to undermine regional stability.

“This is another attempt to show that NATO will now provide its own security by deploying additional forces, thus relying on force… This is completely futile, as any attempts to strengthen the eastern flank, pump weapons into it, will only deteriorate regional security,” Alexander Grushko said, Al Manar reported.

The same outcome will be observed as NATO boosts military presence both in the Black and Baltic sea regions, he added.

NATO has been boosting its military presence in Europe, particularly in Eastern European states, since the outbreak of the Ukrainian crisis, citing Russia’s alleged interference in the internal conflict as justification for the move. Steps were taken in this regard during last year’s summit in Warsaw, when a decision to deploy four multinational battalions to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland was announced, as well as during February’s ministerial meeting, when the alliance decided to boost naval presence in the Black Sea.

Moscow has repeatedly denied the allegations of involvement in Ukraine that have not been supported by factual evidence, also warning that amassing troops and military equipment on its borders is provocative, violates past NATO pledges, and can lead to regional and global destabilization.

Meanwhile, Russian envoy to NATO Alexander Grushko told Sputnik that every recent large-scale NATO military operation ended up as a disaster.

“All the last large operations of the alliance ended with catastrophic consequences,” Grushko said.

He added that the operations in former Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Libya and Iraq could sever as examples.

FNA

R.S