The head of the Russian Defense Ministry, Sergei Shoigu, at a meeting of defense ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member countries, said about the serious concern caused by the growth of NATO's combat potential near the borders of Russia and Belarus.
"The tendency to increase the military confrontation in the European zone is of serious concern. NATO's forward presence is increasing near the borders of the Union State of Russia and Belarus. The military infrastructure is being improved, stocks of material resources, weapons and military equipment are being created, troop transfer routes are being worked out, " Shoigu said on Wednesday, July 28.
The minister cited as an example the largest NATO exercises Defender Europe " with the transfer of troops and the conduct of offensive operations on the eastern flank of the alliance."
According to Shoigu, the West refuses to constructively consider Russia's proposals to de-escalate tensions, in particular, the withdrawal of exercise areas from the contact line and a moratorium on the deployment of medium-and shorter-range missiles in Europe, the head of the Russian Defense Ministry said.
Earlier, on July 14, Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council Mikhail Popov said that NATO servicemen practiced overcoming Russian protective zones in the Black Sea and Baltic regions during the multinational exercises Defender Europe-2021, which took place from March to June. Popov said that this exercise was the largest since the Cold War, and military personnel from 26 countries took part in it.
On June 23, Shoigu also noted that the countries of the North Atlantic Alliance are practicing the transfer of troops to the borders of Russia and Belarus.
On the same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that in order to ensure the security of the Russian Federation, he would improve the army and conduct a meaningful dialogue with all partners.
In early June, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that NATO has malicious plans against the Russian Federation. He added that one of the commitments made by the North Atlantic Alliance is to stop NATO's approach to Russia's borders.
At the same time, on June 14, it became known that NATO will revise its strategic concept in order to resist Russia and China.
