MOSCOW, November 18. /TASS/. The decision by the West to authorize the use of long-range weapons for strikes inside Russia gives Moscow a free hand to attack NATO bases, Dmitry Suslov, deputy director of the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies at the Higher School of Economics, told TASS.
"The risks of escalation are certainly increasing dramatically," he pointed out. "Moscow has explained that it sees and will see such long-range strikes as the direct entry of the US and West into the war against Russia. Accordingly, some steps will need to be taken that would cause direct and immediate damage to Western countries and the US, up to Russia’s direct missile strikes on their military facilities, which certainly won’t involve nuclear warheads. However, it’s a decision of last resort," the expert noted.
According to Suslov, retaliatory measures may include the handover of more advanced weapons to the forces "that are directly fighting against the US, particularly, in the Middle East." Besides, there is also a possibility of immediate strikes on US military bases outside Europe. "This is an extreme option and in this regard, Russia already has a blank check to target NATO’s military facilities in NATO countries," the analyst said.