NATO Nuclear Drills May Escalate Tensions

TEHRAN (Defapress) - In the first official reaction to the start of NATO nuclear drills, Konstantin Kosachev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Federation Council, described the move as a "dangerous development" and warned that it may be accompanied by a retaliatory response from Moscow.

According to Izvestia, the senior Russian official emphasized in an interview: "NATO nuclear drills may force Russia to take retaliatory measures." He added: "These types of exercises show that NATO is an offensive alliance, not a cooperative alliance."

Referring to the history of post-Cold War relations, Kosachev claimed: “It is NATO that has been taking provocative actions since the end of the Cold War, while Moscow has repeatedly called on the alliance to stop expanding its military infrastructure eastward and towards Russia’s borders.”

At the same time, NATO’s annual nuclear deterrence exercise, called “Steadfast Noon,” began today in the Netherlands. Finland is reportedly taking part in the exercise for the second year in a row.