NATO presence on Russia’s borders angers Moscow

Insight

With mounting tensions between the West and Russia, both sides sent more of their military might closer to the Russian border.

Last week, a new NATO European Missile Defense system went online in Romania, angering Russia. CCTV’s Kevin Ozebek reports from Brussels.

Romania is also where NATO recently built a new European missile defense system-another one is being built in Poland.

As NATO builds up in Eastern Europe where Russia once ruled in influence, Moscow said it must respond.

Russia’s defense minister says those measures include sending more military units to its Western border by the end of the year.

The NATO-Russia relationship soured two years ago after Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

And experts said as long as Moscow holds Crimea and denies support for pro-Russian rebels in Eastern Ukraine-NATO will want a strong footprint in Eastern Europe.

The next NATO summit will take place in Warsaw in July. At that summit we’ll see if NATO decides to further increase its presence in Eastern Europe close to Russia’s border.


Moscow’s three new military divisions

The military brinkmanship has sparked Russia to send more forces to guard its borders. CCTV’s Julia Lyubova reports on what that deployment might look like.

Around 4,000 troops are expected to be deployed in NATO’s planned expansion along its eastern flank.

This would be in addition to some 42,000 U.S. troops slated for deployment to Eastern Europe next February as part of an armored brigade.

Russian media reports say the new Russian buildup is expected to include motorized rifle divisions totaling around 30,000 soldiers in all.

Russia is angry about NATO’s increased military presence and military exercises close to its borders.

But after Russia’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, NATO’s Eastern members have asked the alliance to expand its presence as a deterrent.

Moscow strongly denies that it has any intentions to attack the Baltic states.


Panel discusses the latest Russia vs. NATO tensions

CCTV America’s Mike Walter spoke to James Jatras, Deputy Director of the American Institute in Ukraine. And Kurt Volker, former U.S. Ambassador to NATO. He’s now Executive Director of the McCain Institute for International Leadership at Arizona State University.
Follow Mike Walter on Twitter @mikewaltercctv