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Putin: Russia's Military Doctrine Remains Defensive Despite NATO Buildup

Sputnik News

17:33 19.12.2014(updated 21:38 19.12.2014)

Russian President Putin said at a meeting with the top military brass in Moscow that Russia's military doctrine, which has an absolutely defensive nature, remains unchanged.

MOSCOW, December 19 (Sputnik) – The Russian military doctrine will remain defensive despite NATO military buildup in eastern Europe, but Russia will make consistent and determined efforts to safeguard its security, President Vladimir Putin said Friday.

'Our military doctrine, which has an absolutely defensive nature, remains unchanged, although we will protect our security consistently and determinedly,' Putin said at a meeting with the top military brass in Moscow.

Putin said that the international situation around Russia is not getting any less complicated. 'You [all] are aware of the United States building layered ballistic missile defense system as well as of the increased activity of NATO, including in Europe and especially in Eastern Europe,' the president said.

The president stressed that while continuing to defend its interests and sovereignty Russia 'will aspire to strengthen the international stability while calling for equal security for all states and all nations.'

Russia has repeatedly urged the international community to address the issue of the expansion of the global US missile defense network. As far as the expansion of the 'missile shield' in Europe is concerned, Washington is planning to install an Aegis Ashore Ballistic Missile Defense system in Romania by 2015, and a similar system in Poland by 2018, according to the US Missile Defense Agency.

Under NATO's planned missile defense system, radars and interceptors will be placed in phases in several NATO countries, including Romania, Turkey, Spain and Poland. The defense shield is also bolstered by marine-based systems.

Relations between Russia and NATO have deteriorated in light of the Ukrainian crisis, as the alliance has accused Moscow of meddling in Ukraine's internal affairs, a claim Russia has repeatedly denied.

Following Crimea's reunification with Russia in March, NATO boosted its military presence in Poland and in the former Soviet Baltic republics of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. In April, the alliance ceased all practical cooperation with Russia, limiting contact to ambassadorial and higher levels.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has on several occasions described NATO expansion as a mistake that undermines European stability.

© Sputnik