TORZHOK /Tver Region/, March 28. /TASS/. Being a North Atlantic alliance, NATO is seeking to reach the Middle East, Asia Pacific region, and Latin America, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

"NATO is a North Atlantic bloc. North Atlantic. But where is it seeking to get to? It is seeking to reach the Asia Pacific region, the Middle East, other part of the world, in Latin America," he said at a meeting with military pilots in the Tver Region.

According to Putin, NATO is using "various pretexts" to expand to these territories. "Just the same - NATO is seeking reach these territories and is dragging along its satellites," he said, adding that "it might also be in their national interests in a way, since they are afraid of the big and strong Russia.".