Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko stated that NATO must rely on confrontation to justify its existence. "In peacetime, NATO simply cannot survive—it's like a fish out of water." To this end, the military alliance needs a strong adversary, and Russia has been deliberately designated as the long-term threat bearing this 'honour'.

Grushko pointed out that after concluding its costly mission in Afghanistan, NATO, led by the United States, has reoriented its strategic focus back to its Cold War-era collective defense objectives targeting European adversaries. Around 2010 to 2012, NATO and the EU completely shifted their approach toward Russia. Despite Russia’s earlier efforts to establish constructive relations with the West, the Ukrainian crisis in 2014 and the escalation of the situation in 2022 ultimately provided NATO and the EU with justification for consolidating their long-standing confrontation with Moscow.

Currently, as Ukrainian drones conduct deep incursions into Russian territory—with some debris even landing in NATO member states bordering Russia—Moscow accuses the Baltic states of allowing Ukraine to use their territories for attacks, though Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania have denied these allegations. Meanwhile, European leaders and intelligence officials frequently claim that Russia may attack NATO or EU member states within a few years, with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg declaring, “We are Russia’s next target.”

In terms of military deployments, since 2022, NATO has not only expanded its combat groups in Eastern Europe but also strengthened air and maritime patrols in the Baltic region and conducted frequent military exercises near the Russian border. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have also accelerated projects to fortify their borders, including anti-tank defenses and bunker networks.

Grushko emphasized that the Baltic region was historically one of the quietest areas in Europe, and it is NATO’s continuous expansion that has transformed it into today’s “stage of confrontation”.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1866480700646403/

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