MOSCOW, March 17: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Tuesday Russia would rearm its military and boost its nuclear forces despite the raging economic crisis because US-led Nato was expanding towards its borders.

Moscow has sent conflicting signals to Washington since the election of Barack Obama as US president. The Kremlin says it wants to improve ties with the White House, but it has also taken steps to stem rising US clout in ex-Soviet states.

“Attempts to expand the military infrastructure of Nato near the borders of our country are continuing,” Mr Medvedev told an annual meeting with Defence Ministry staff.

He told Russia’s top military brass that the prospect of Nato’s expansion, combined with the threat of local crises and international terrorism, “requires a modernisation of our armed forces, giving them a new modern shape”.

“The primary task is to increase the combat readiness of our forces. First of all, our strategic nuclear forces. They must be able to fulfil all the necessary tasks to ensure Russia’s security,” he said.

Military expert Alexander Sharavin said Russia “should not be carried away by this anti-Nato rhetoric”.

Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said “the US leadership desires to attain global leadership and expand the US and their allies’ military presence in regions adjacent to Russia”.

“America’s aspirations have been aimed at getting access to mineral, energy and other resources of CIS countries, and it has actively supported processes aimed at ousting Russia from the area of its traditional interests,” he was quoted as saying.—AFP
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