Putin: NATO expanding its footprint across Asia-Pacific

Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused NATO of “infiltrating” the Asia-Pacific region, warning that the deployment of new weapons systems there poses a threat to Russia.

Speaking during the final stage of a Pacific Fleet exercise on August 12, Putin said the region was experiencing a growing “conflict potential”, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

“We see that, unfortunately, the conflict potential is growing here in the Asia-Pacific region. NATO is infiltrating here. New military-political blocs are being created. New weapons systems are being deployed and planned for deployment here, creating threats to our country,” Putin said.

Putin also said plans to deploy additional weapons in the Asia-Pacific represented a threat to Russia.

He further warned that tensions were rising not only in the Asia-Pacific but also in the neighbouring Arctic region.

By Aghakazim Guliyev