Russia’s Updated National Security Strategy
By
Stephen Lendman
January 02, 2015 "Information
Clearing House" -
Despite
his forthright efforts for cooperative
US/Russian relations, Putin knows Washington
represents Moscow’s greatest threat.
He’s
acting responsibly to protect his nation’s
interests, signing a decree, approving an
updated national security strategy, according to
Tass.
It
addresses significant threats Russia faces -
notably US-led NATO encroaching on its borders,
stating:
“The
buildup of the military potential of the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and vesting
it with global functions implemented in
violations of norms of international law,
boosting military activity of the bloc’s
countries, further expansion of the alliance,
the approach of its military infrastructure to
Russian borders create a threat to the national
security.”
It accused
Washington and complicit allies of “seeking to
keep up their domination in global affairs,”
risking greater conflicts than already.
Russia’s
Foreign Ministry issued a statement, saying
“(t)he course NATO has assumed towards
‘deterring’ Russia, materialized as a buildup of
military presence in countries of Eastern Europe
and the Baltic States, increase in the number
and intensity of exercises close to the Russian
border, necessitated measures to counter the
threats that NATO creates for Russia’s national
security.”
“The
remaining channels of a political dialogue with
NATO and bilateral contacts with the leadership
of the key member countries of the organization
have been used for the explanation of negative
consequences and potential risks from changes to
the existing configuration of forces in
Europe.”
The
Ministry noted the “confrontational nature of
the Alliance’s decision to invite Montenegro to
the start of talks on its accession to NATO,
leading to a further fragmentation of the
European security space, creation of new
demarcation lines on the continent.”
Are plans
to incorporate Ukraine next not yet revealed?
Will US-led NATO divisions be deployed along
Russia’s borders more than already? Pentagon
tactical and strategic nuclear weapons target
its heartland.
Are things
heading recklessly toward direct confrontation?
Russia’s warning against deploying nuclear
weapons in Europe to avoid “dangerous
consequences” went unheeded.
Former
German Defense Ministry Parliamentary State
Secretary Willy Wimmer called “new attack
options against Russia a conscious provocation
of our Russian neighbor.”
Despite
Bundestag members overwhelmingly ruling for the
withdrawal of US nuclear weapons from Germany
earlier, new ones are being deployed, sparking
outrage in Russia.
Foreign
Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called it
“an infringement of Articles 1 and 2 of the
Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.”
Putin
responded to Washington’s provocative Eastern
European expansion, saying Russia “will be
forced to aim our armed forces…at those
territories from where the threat comes.”
“It is
(US-led nuclear armed and dangerous) NATO that
is moving towards our border, and we aren’t
moving anywhere.”
Russia’s
Foreign Ministry accused Washington of “inciting
tensions and carefully nurturing (its) European
allies’ anti-Russian phobias (as a pretext for)
expanding its military presence and influence in
Europe” - threatening world peace.
Key US
NATO allies Britain, France, Germany, Turkey and
others march in lockstep with its aggressive
anti-Russian policy. Its officials have just
cause for concern.
Russian
lower house State Duma Speaker Sergey Naryshkin
called NATO a “cancer tumor” in Europe. World
peace depends on its “disband(ment).”
“This
could be done in several stages,” he said. First
“expel” America. Disbandment could “painlessly”
follow - a vital step toward “strengthening
security and stability on the European
continent,” he stressed.
Russia’s
updated national security strategy cited other
significant threats - including internally or
externally instigated color revolutions, a US
specialty, threatening its sovereignty by
undermining and destabilizing its political
integrity.
US
bioweapons threaten its security, the document
saying its “network of…biological military labs
is expanding on the territories of countries
bordering Russia.”
Its
“independent foreign and domestic policy has
been met with counteraction by the US and its
allies, seeking to maintain” unchallenged global
dominance, including by marginalizing,
containing, weakening and isolating Russia, a
high-risk confrontational policy assuring no
winners.
US-installed fascists in Ukraine pose a direct
threat to Russia’s security. Their regime
represents a “long-term source of instability in
Europe and directly at the Russian border” - an
intolerable situation forcing Putin to respond
appropriately, at the same time fostering peace
and stability.
Moscow
wants nuclear proliferation constrained, urging
“the creation of appropriate conditions that
will enable a reduction of nuclear weapons
without damaging international security and
strategic stability” - perhaps a first step
toward eliminating these hugely destructive
weapons once and for all.
Russia
intends defending its security responsibly, at
the same time going all-out for world peace and
stability - polar opposite destructive US
policy.
Its
document explained “(a)n entire spectrum of
political, financial, economic and information
instruments has been brought into struggle for
influence in the international arena.” America’s
agenda threatens world peace.
Russia
only intends using force when other options to
“protect the national interests” fail, a
possibility it hopes won’t be necessary.
It’s
concerned about its resource-dependent economy,
noting a need to become more diversified and
competitive.
It cites
“a lag in the development of advanced
technologies, the vulnerability of the financial
system, the imbalance of the budgetary system,
the economy going offshore, the exhaustion of
the raw materials base, the strength of the
shadow economy, conditions leading to corruption
and criminal activities, and uneven development
of regions.”
It intends
initiatives designed to deal with these and
other significant issues - planning social and
economic policies to strengthen its financial
system, as well as “ensur(e) its sovereignty and
the stability of the national currency.”
It
understands the threats and challenges it faces
- intending to address them effectively,
permitting no outside forces from compromising
its sovereignty, especially US-led Western ones.
Whether
its efforts will be enough to avoid potentially
catastrophic global war is the most pressing
issue of our time.
Stephen
Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at
lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. - His new book as
editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in
Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."
http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html
- Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com. Listen
to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished
guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the
Progressive Radio Network. It airs three
times weekly: live on Sundays at 1PM Central
time plus two prerecorded archived programs.
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