MOSCOW, July 10. /TASS/. NATO’s new plans of military buildup and increasing defense spending by its member countries pose no threat to Russia even if they are implemented, a senior Russian lawmaker said on Tuesday.
"Do their plans to assemble 30 battalions and 30 air squadrons capable of deploying in 30 days pose any threat to Russia? No, they don’t. Even if these plans are implemented," Viktor Bondarev, chairman of the defense and security committee of Russia’s Federation Council upper parliament house, told TASS. "Because our defense in strong, as is our military might. We are capable of countering any potential military threat." Russia’s geopolitical opponents "are fully aware of that," he added.
Addressing a news conference ahead of the NATO summit, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that in 2019 NATO nations will increase their military spending by billions of dollars. Moreover, NATO will pass the so-called 30-30-30-30 plan requiring the allies to have 30 land battalions, 30 air squadrons and 30 warships ready to deploy within 30 days.
According to Bondarev, the United States is having a decisive influence within NATO. "So, by its behest and under its leadership the allies will be building up defense spending to bring it up to record-breaking figures in 2019," he said. "It is not a consolidated decision but the one taken under the United States’ pressure."
"US top brass are ready to initiate and announce any ambitious plans to have more budget money," the Russian lawmaker added.
"Despite its obvious achievements, the American defense industry is nothing but a bubble as a matter of fact," he noted. "The notorious stealth technologies, which, of course, are a breakthrough in a sense, are not that invulnerable as they were presented by the Americans. And many American know-how, developments and projects, including in the defense sector, are geared to pump out as much money as possible.".