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NATO keeps boosting military presence near Russian border — diplomat

NATO military buildup can be observed "along the entire stretch of land connecting the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea, Maria Zakharova said

MOSCOW, November 16. /TASS/. The US Department of State’s attempts to deny the NATO military buildup along Russia’s entire western border looks unconvincing, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

In response to Washington’s call not to believe reports about NATO structures encircling Russia, Zakharova said: "Unlike the US Department of State, we closely monitor NATO military buildup near our borders, which includes the creation of new command-and-staff facilities, logistics support structures and relevant infrastructure," she said.

"The presence of US servicemen in neighboring states is being carried out on a rotational and, de-facto, permanent basis; military transport operations near our borders are being continuously expanded. Nearly three decades since the end of the Cold War, we still see the alliance persistently pushing its fortified lines farther and farther to the east, every time explaining it with the need of self-defense. Such actions inevitably lead to militarization of the region, create new risks and fuel military and political confrontation."

She added that NATO military buildup can be observed "along the entire stretch of land connecting the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea.

"Since October, vast operational resources have been concentrated in the Baltic Region and the north of Europe, due to a series of major international exercises," the spokeswoman continued. "They are being deployed in addition to NATO regiments already present in the countries of the eastern flank. Those regions have never seen such a military presence since the end of the World War II.".