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Russia concerned over Europe’s active militarization — defense chief

The defense minister says Russia is concerned over NATO’s course towards the active militarization of the European continent

MOSCOW, October 29. /TASS/. Russia is concerned over NATO’s course towards the active militarization of the European continent, Russian Defense Minister Army General Sergei Shoigu said at a meeting with his Greek counterpart Panos Kammenos on Monday.

"We are observing with alarm NATO’s course towards the active militarization of the European continent. We see how efforts are being taken to draw ever new NATO countries, I mean, first and foremost, the Balkans," Shoigu said.

At its 2016 Warsaw summit, NATO made a decision to deploy multinational battalions in Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Poland in 2017. Besides, in September this year, Polish President Andrzej Duda called on the US authorities to send more American troops to Poland which, as he put it, would contribute to strengthening security.

At a joint board meeting of the defense ministries of Russia and Belarus on October 24, Russian Defense Minister Army General Shoigu said that NATO had considerably increased its reconnaissance activity in the Baltics and in the Black Sea region.