ST. PETERSBURG, September 1. /TASS/. Hotbeds of military tension are being created and US and NATO military presence is increasing near Russia's border, Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolay Patrushev said on Tuesday.

"The United States and NATO are increasing their military presence in European states neighbouring Russia. Hotbeds of military tension are being created near our border. There have been continuous attempts at bringing anti-Russian political regimes to power in former Soviet states," Patrushev said, delivering a lecture at the State Marine Technical University of St. Petersburg (SMTU).

Most Western powers were actively upgrading their armed forces inventory and the offensive capability of North Atlantic alliance armed services was growing, he added.