Medvedev: NATO's military capabilities including nuclear triad are aimed at Russia
(Baonghean.vn) - On August 7, Sputnik reported that Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev affirmed that NATO considers Russia a potential opponent, adding that the military capabilities of this alliance, including the nuclear triad, are aimed at Russia.
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| Trident II nuclear missile. Illustration: Wikipedia |
“Despite what our colleagues from the alliance say, NATO countries still see Russia as a potential adversary. And their military capabilities, including the nuclear triad, are quite clearly aimed at Russia,” Medvedev said in an interview with Russia’s Kommersant newspaper.
Medvedev pointed out that this also concerns NATO's non-nuclear weapons and tactical nuclear forces, which begin to play the role of strategic weapons when they are deployed close to Russia's borders.
Such capabilities could cause “colossal” losses, the Russian prime minister added, noting that Russia needs to understand how to counter these forces.
However, Mr. Dmitry Medvedev further affirmed that Russia will be ready to cooperate with the US if Washington shows its willingness to resume relations with Moscow.
“The door is still open. Especially when we remember that we were not the ones who started the campaign of sanctions, various restrictions, the expulsion of diplomats, the imposition of economic measures… The United States can make a move to show that they want to restore relations. We are ready for that,” Medvedev said.
The Russian Prime Minister also affirmed that the initiative to sign the European Security Treaty can always be "revived" but requires political will. Answering a question related to the European Security Treaty initiative, Medvedev affirmed: "Everything can be revived but requires will."
In June 2008, Medvedev, then President of Russia, proposed developing a new European security treaty between Russia, the European Union, NATO and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). This treaty has not yet been signed.