Wednesday, June 22, 2016

President Putin Warns That Russia Will Respond To 'Aggressive NATO Rhetoric'

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a wreath-laying ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the Nazi German invasion, by the Kremlin walls in Moscow, Russia, June 22, 2016. REUTERS/Grigory Dukor

RT: Putin: Russia will respond to 'aggressive NATO rhetoric'

Russia will take adequate measures to counter NATO's increasingly “aggressive rhetoric," President Vladimir Putin told MPs at the closing session of the State Duma. He called to create an international security system open to all countries.

It’s necessary to create a collective security system void of "bloc-like thinking" and open to all countries, Putin said on Wednesday in Russia's parliament.

"Russia is ready to discuss this extremely important issue," he said, adding that such proposals have been so far left unanswered by Western countries.

Read more ....

Update #1: Putin says Russia must strengthen as 'aggressive' NATO approaches (Reuters)
Update #2: How Will Putin React to NATO's Show of Force? -- Newsweek

WNU Editor: Russia has already responded ... but aside from more exercises and increasing the defense budget .... Russia's options are limited.

8 comments:

jimbrown said...

Putin is lucky that NATO does not respond every time to his aggressive rhetoric.

Bob Huntley said...

Do they actually increase the defense budget in these cases or just announce it?

RRH said...

Whether on the street or the international scene, making threats is a sign of weakness. You either do something or you don't.

Truth Teller said...

President Putin is like the pot calling the kettle black. Mr. Putin is concerned about projection of NATO troops within alliance boundaries. Considers it threatening, yet the snap takeover of Crimea, seeding 'little green men' into eastern Ukraine and especially massive army movement on Russian borders similar to invasion preparation, belligerent air, space and naval movements, are much more provocative and worthy of the minor realignment of NATO forces to protect from any further international abuses by Russia and much more. But for the purposes of whipping up the Duma and their constituents for further Russian aggression, it serves the purpose well.

If only President Putins soft spoken words belied an honest, soft spoken and peace seeking foreign policy and the opening up to all Russian citizens of the full suite of human and civil rights. My belief is that Mr. Putin believes in the concept of world peace and human rights, but he is to insecure to take the risk. It seems like an easy assumption, that the people of Russia would love for him to take both of those risks, because inside, all people long for the freedom to be themselves.

the objective voice said...

The tough words are for the domestic audience. He needs to look powerful for the Russian people in tough economic times for his own servival. That's all he is concerned with. If he was overthrow the people would be able to see how much he and his family/cronies have ripped off Russia. But the truth is, no one is really concerned about the Russian military, it has no chance of defeating the US, let alone NATO. A confrontation conventionally would only lead to its destruction. Russia has no friends, and other than gas/oil, which are now cheap and increasingly available from other sources, it has nothing the world needs, and no allies. Except Syria, who can't defend itself from rebels. His words are worth as much as the air they are carried on.

Truth teller said...


Repose to objective voice,
Russia can easily change the face of modern world commerce with their considerable war making capabilities. It is another question who.would win, ultimately, but Russia has often spoke of rapid escalation of conventional war under certain scenarios. Diplomats a and generals know so, and try to preserve the peace, as the alternative is unspeakable. Nuclear war is unwinable between the two nuclear Super powers.

Young Communist said...

Underestimate Putin and you are dead.

Russia has one strong ally: China.
Chinese government know that if Russia fall in some manner, China became surrounded by NATO.

the objective voice said...

China is not Russia's ally, it is a regional competitor. They are neighbors and have fought each other in the past. They are in much different places in the world. China is an as sending military and economic power. Russia is the opposite. Again, Russia can't compete on a conventional level with the US or let alone NATO. Russia is a declining regional power. The recent military developments and sword rating are for domestic purposes. It lacks depth in its quality, and the conscript army shouldn't breed confidence in its capabillities. It is a paper tiger. Putin knows to stay in his box.