nato-s-rearmament-no-threat-to-russia-says-putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed NATO’s ongoing rearmament efforts as posing no threat to Russia, describing them as “completely pointless”. Speaking on the sidelines of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum early Thursday, the Russian leader also claimed the West was relying on “inconceivable lies” to justify its own military spending.

 

“We do not consider any NATO rearmament to be a threat to the Russian Federation, because we are self-sufficient in terms of ensuring our own security, and we are constantly improving our armed forces and our defence capabilities,” Putin said during a Q&A session at the 28th annual edition of the Forum.

 

While acknowledging that certain threats may arise from the actions of the US-led alliance, Putin asserted that Russia was prepared to counter any challenge.

 

“There is no doubt that Russia will mitigate all the threats that may arise from the western bloc,” he said.

 

The Russian President went on to accuse Western governments of deliberately misleading their populations to justify ballooning military budgets, invoking wartime propaganda techniques.

Also read: Russia ready for next round of Ukraine peace negotiations: Putin

 

“A Nazi propagandist once said that the more incredible the lie, the faster people will believe it. This legend that Russia is planning to attack Europe, the NATO countries, is the same inconceivable lie,” Putin remarked.

 

“Everyone understands that this is nonsense. They deceive their population to ensure the extraction of money from the budget… and to explain economic failures.”

 

Putin’s comments come amid heightened tensions in Eastern Europe and increasing NATO exercises near Russia’s borders. Several NATO members, including Germany, Poland and the Baltic states, have stepped up defence spending in response to perceived threats from Moscow, citing Russia’s military activity in Ukraine and elsewhere.

 

Despite the geopolitical climate, Putin struck a confident note about Russia’s strategic resilience and self-reliance in the face of growing Western pressure.