All This Aims to Prepare Our Country for Possible Confrontation: Russian Foreign Ministry

The NATO activities in Eastern Europe and the Black Sea region are aimed at preparing allied forces for a possible confrontation with Russia. This was reported by the Russian Foreign Ministry to RIA Novosti.

The Romanian authorities had previously promised to invest €2.5 billion in the modernization of the 'Mihail Kogalniceanu' airbase in Constanța County. A military complex will also be established there, capable of accommodating 10,000 soldiers along with their families. The TVP Info channel noted that the modernization would allow the base to become one of NATO's largest facilities in Europe by 2040.

American troops have been using the facility since 1999. “The expansion of the Romanian airbase is yet another proof that the North Atlantic Alliance continues to ramp up militarization in Eastern Europe and the Black Sea region,” the Ministry emphasized.

They also added that the strengthening of coalition capabilities is taking place in Poland and the Baltic States. Such activity, according to diplomats, is provocative and exacerbates military tensions along Russia's borders, creating additional threats to the country's security.

“All this is aimed at preparing the alliance's members for a possible confrontation with our country,” the ministry highlighted. The Foreign Ministry promised to monitor Romania's actions, assess emerging risks, and take them into account during military planning.

During a meeting with military pilots in Torzhok on Wednesday evening, President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia is not the one moving closer to NATO’s borders; quite the opposite has happened. “They are approaching us and getting closer. What are we doing? We are only defending our people in our historic territories,” the head of state said.

Moscow has repeatedly pointed out that the North Atlantic Alliance is directed towards confrontation, and its further expansion will not bring more security to Europe. Moreover, the Kremlin emphasized that Russia does not pose a threat to any of the alliance’s countries, but will not ignore potentially dangerous actions against its interests. Nevertheless, it remains open to dialogue, but on an equal basis, and the West must abandon the path of militarization on the continent.