Russian FM: Moscow Is Aware of US, Western Military Plans

TEHRAN (Defapress)- “Our awareness of what plans the US and other Western countries’ militaries are nursing in relation to the Russian Federation is guaranteed,” Lavrov said on Monday.

The US has been actively deploying its air-defense systems around the globe, including on Russia’s doorstep, in the Baltic states, and Japan. However, the country should not worry “no matter what happens in the world”, as its security is ensured, Lavrov stated, citing Russian President Vladimir Putin and new developments in the Russian Army.

Tokyo is planning to spend some $4.2 billion over the next 30 years to install and operate US radar systems on the new ground-based Aegis Ashore missile defense system.

Despite Japanese claims the systems are aimed at protection against North Korean missile threats, Russia has repeatedly protested their deployment, calling it “disproportionate” and possibly undermining “strategic stability in the northern part of the Pacific”. In 2017, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said that the systems’ appearance on Russia’s Eastern borders is “something we certainly cannot fail to take into account in our military planning”.

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