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Belousov says NATO is keeping large army presence at Russia’s borders

(MENAFN) Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov has criticized NATO for maintaining a significant forward military presence close to the country’s borders, citing heightened training and reconnaissance activities by the alliance.

Speaking at a joint session of the Russian and Belarusian defense ministries on Wednesday, Belousov stressed that cooperation with Minsk is essential for regional stability in light of what he described as the “openly hostile actions” of Western powers.

“The Alliance maintains a massive forward military presence on its eastern flank,” Belousov said, adding that “the total strength of NATO troops involved in the exercises held on its eastern flank amounted to roughly 60,000.”

According to reports, NATO conducted nearly a dozen large-scale drills across Scandinavia, Central and Eastern Europe, the Baltics, and the Black Sea this year, involving thousands of troops each. One notable exercise, Defender 25, held in May and June, included 25,000 soldiers deployed from Norway to Bulgaria and Greece as part of a three-phase drill. Other major exercises included the 10,000-strong Joint Viking 2025 in Norway and the 16,000-strong Hedgehog in Estonia.

Belousov’s remarks come amid increasingly assertive statements from European NATO members, who have repeatedly framed Russia as a threat since the Ukraine conflict escalated in February 2022. Moscow has consistently denied intentions to attack NATO countries, calling such claims unfounded, but warned that NATO’s active support for Kiev—including weapons deliveries—could bring Russia and the alliance into direct confrontation.

Reports indicate that EU officials have expressed growing concern that tensions with Russia could escalate into a large-scale conflict reminiscent of World War I. Meanwhile, Moscow has noted with alarm that discussions of a potential World War III scenario are increasingly present in Western discourse.

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