Shoigú stated during a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart that there are reports of a high-intensity operational and combat readiness under the auspices of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the TASS news agency reported.

‘More than 30 drills are being carried out every year on the western border of the Federation, with scenarios based on an armed conflict against Russia. Non-allied countries such as Georgia, Ukraine, Sweden and Finland are becoming increasingly involved,’ he said.

The minister said that with the encroachment of military infrastructure to the borders of Russia and Belarus the military and political situation is becoming complicated.

Shoigu warned that the Alliance has begun using the territories of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, as well as Poland and the Baltic Sea to conduct the maneuvers.

He stressed that the intensification of the advanced presence of NATO in the vicinity of both countries implies the creation of reserves of arms, military equipment and matériel. He said the military bloc is working out measures for deploying troops.

The Minister also explained that NATO is increasing the capability of port infrastructures and airfields, and estimated that the number of its primary intervention forces almost doubled and may have gone from 25,000 to 40,000 troops.

Shoigu emphasized that Washington is deploying Aegis Ashore anti-missile systems in Romania and Poland, whose launchers allow the use of Tomahawk cruise missiles in conjunction with anti-missiles.

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