“What we’re observing today on NATO’s eastern flank is the continuous rotation of forces, the permanent deployment of US equipment, large-scale exercises, and increasing military activities in the Baltic and Black seas show that we are looking at quite a serious turn [of events]. And we know from the times of the Cold War that this mixture of politics and military planning creates a spiral effect of confrontation and a spiral in the arms race that is difficult to break,” Grushko told RIA Novosti in an interview.
Earlier this month, Grushko said the establishment of NATO bases in Eastern Europe was fueling a climate of confrontation with Russia and was in contradiction of European security interests.
Since 2014, the alliance has been strengthening its military presence in Eastern European countries that border Russia amid the Ukrainian crisis.
Russia has repeatedly expressed concern over NATO reinforcements along the country's western border, saying the move could lead to regional and global destabilization.
