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Russia Says NATO’s Newest Members Are Now on Its Military Target List
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned that countries joining NATO automatically become military targets for Russia, including the potential for nuclear retaliation under Moscow’s defense doctrine, Russian state media outlet RIA Novosti reported on April 29.
Speaking on Tuesday during a lecture hosted by the Russian state-run “Knowledge. First” educational marathon, Medvedev, who is now a Deputy Chief of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, claimed that NATO expansion has only made its new members less secure.
“There is not a single country whose security has improved after joining NATO,” said Medvedev, who currently serves as deputy chair of Russia’s Security Council.
“Just look at Poland, the Baltics, Finland, and Sweden. They are now part of a bloc hostile to us, and that means they automatically become targets for our armed forces—including possible retaliatory strikes, even nuclear ones, or preventive action under our military doctrine.”
“What kind of security did they get? None. They’ve just been added to the target list of our military forces. Is their life better now? No,” Medvedev added.
The warning comes as Sweden and Finland complete their accession to NATO, ending decades of military nonalignment in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Medvedev, known for his increasingly belligerent rhetoric, has repeatedly threatened NATO countries with escalation in recent years, particularly those in Eastern Europe.
Earlier, Russian leader Vladimir Putin stated that the strategic importance of the Arctic is increasing globally and said that geopolitical rivalry in the region is intensifying.
He emphasized that Russia would continue to strengthen its military presence in the Far North.
He accused NATO countries of viewing the Arctic as a potential staging ground for future military conflicts. “NATO countries see the Far North as a springboard for possible conflicts,” Putin said.
Putin stressed that Russia posed no threat in the Arctic but made clear that Moscow would act to protect its sovereignty. “We do not threaten anyone in the Arctic, but we are monitoring the situation and will not allow any encroachments on our sovereignty,” he stated.
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