MOSCOW: Russia and NATO are now engaged in “direct confrontation,” the Kremlin said as the US-led alliance marked its 75th anniversary on Thursday. The remarks from Moscow come amidst growing concerns over NATO’s eastward expansion and its implications for regional security.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov addressed reporters, emphasizing Russia’s perception of NATO’s actions as a direct challenge to its interests. Peskov highlighted NATO’s involvement in the conflict surrounding Ukraine and its ongoing expansion of military infrastructure towards Russian borders as key points of contention.
“In fact, relations have now slipped to the level of direct confrontation,” Peskov stated, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
President Vladimir Putin’s concerns regarding NATO’s successive waves of eastern enlargement have been a focal point for Moscow. Putin’s war in Ukraine two years ago was ostensibly driven by the aim of preventing NATO from encroaching further onto Russia’s borders. However, rather than deterring NATO, the conflict has spurred the alliance’s cohesion and expansion, exemplified by the recent admission of Finland and Sweden.
NATO’s expansion into former Warsaw Pact countries and the incorporation of Baltic states that were once part of the Soviet Union have fueled Russian grievances. Moscow perceives these actions as a betrayal by the West following the end of the Cold War, as NATO moved eastwards while disbanding Moscow’s former alliance.
