NATO has been expanding its military infrastructure in the Baltic region while conducting regular exercises designed to simulate operations against Russia, according to a statement by Vladislav Maslennikov, Director of the Department of European Problems at the Russian Foreign Ministry on October 27.
In an interview, Maslennikov stated: “If the alliance is pumping up military infrastructure in the Baltic and constantly conducting training sessions to practice actions against a ‘comparable enemy,’ read — Russia, then the European bureaucracy and individual EU capitals are consistently implementing steps to tighten control and create obstacles to international navigation.”
Maslennikov cited Western countries’ use of the so-called “shadow fleet” concept as an example of such measures, which he alleged pose threats to environmental safety and maritime operations. Moscow has declared that such actions would be classified as piracy and will respond accordingly.
On October 25, Maslennikov further stated that the European Union’s detention of ships in the Baltic Sea constitutes hostile and provocative behavior, noting that individual EU member states are taking steps that could complicate international shipping.
Additionally, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on October 1 that Russia would be prepared to respond in kind to any aggressive actions by other nations. In a separate comment regarding attempts to detain Russian vessels, the president described such moves as an obvious violation of international law.
