NATO is a foreign policy tool for the United States, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
“NATO was created as a Cold War tool in the fight against the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact. Neither the Warsaw Pact, nor the Soviet Union exists anymore, but NATO does. The question is: what for? There’s only one answer: no matter what they say there, it is a tool of U.S. foreign policy,” Putin said during a plenary session at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
It was said earlier that NATO is being transformed into a political organization, as an organization that provides substantial elements of global stability, he said.
“But if that is how it will be, then it may be not too bad. But so far it is not happening. So far we are seeing the development of military infrastructure. And this infrastructure getting closer to our borders is certainly worrying us,” Putin said.
Moscow is puzzled by NATO members’ claims of having no aggressive aspirations while increasing the military budget, he said.
“The United States is requiring its allies to increase military spending, but at the same time they are saying that NATO is not going to attack anyone. And if you are not going to attack anyone, then why would you increase military spending?” Putin said during a plenary session at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
“This, of course, raises additional questions with us,” Putin said.
