NATO boosts military presence near Russia’s borders, warns Moscow

Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov stated that NATO maintains a large military presence near Russia’s borders, increasing training and reconnaissance activities. He made these comments during a joint session of the Russian and Belarusian defense ministries, emphasizing the importance of Moscow-Minsk cooperation for regional stability amid what he called the West’s “openly hostile actions.”

Belousov noted that NATO’s eastern flank has about 60,000 troops involved in exercises this year, with numerous drills held in Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, and the Baltics. Notable exercises included Defender 25, involving 25,000 troops, and smaller drills like ‘Joint Viking 2025’ in Norway and ‘Hedgehog’ in Estonia. Moscow has repeatedly denied intentions to attack NATO or EU countries but warned that NATO’s involvement in Ukraine could lead to direct confrontation.