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| Russia comments on NATO troop deployment near its border | Russia comments on NATO troop deployment near its border |
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| Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said the forces aimed at deterring Moscow had more than doubled in size since the start of the operation in Ukraine | Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said the forces aimed at deterring Moscow had more than doubled in size since the start of the operation in Ukraine |
| The number of NATO forces stationed close to Russia’s western borders has reached more than 30,000, the country’s Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said on Wednesday. | |
| He stated that the US-led military bloc had augmented units in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as in the Balkans and Baltic states. | He stated that the US-led military bloc had augmented units in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as in the Balkans and Baltic states. |
| “The contingent has grown in size by two and half times to more than 30,000 people since February, and may grow more in the nearest future,” Shoigu said during a joint ministerial session with military officials from Belarus. | “The contingent has grown in size by two and half times to more than 30,000 people since February, and may grow more in the nearest future,” Shoigu said during a joint ministerial session with military officials from Belarus. |
| He said that such a concentration of Western forces poses a threat not only to Moscow, but to Belarus, Russia’s ally. | |
| The defense of both countries is a “priority task” of the Union State of the Russian Federation and Belarus, he stated. | |
| The West’s ultimate goal in its confrontation with Russia is to “destroy its economy, military potential, and to deprive it of the ability to conduct independent foreign policy,” Shoigu said. | |
| In response to Russia’s campaign in Ukraine, NATO enhanced military units and weapon stockpiles in the east as a “deterrence” measure. The bloc described Russia as “the most significant and direct threat” to peace and security in its chief strategic document, which was updated in June. | |
| Russia and Belarus announced the creation of a joint military force last month, which was said to include several thousand Russian troops. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko linked the move to tensions with the West. The first trains carrying Russian soldiers arrived in Belarus on October 15. |