Russia will take into account Washington's military plans in Europe and target its systems at new zones of deployment of American troops, Oleg Morozov, a member of the International Committee of the Federation Council, told RIA Novosti.
Earlier, the head of the Pentagon, Mark Esper, said that the US will move part of the military to the borders of Russia to "contain" it. He noted that the United States might deploy additional military forces in Poland and the Baltic States in the future. Esper also said that a total of almost 12,000 US military personnel will be withdrawn from Germany, most of them (6,400) will go home, and the rest will be relocated to NATO countries in Europe, including Italy and Belgium. According to media reports, the headquarters of US forces in Europe will also be moved there.
"The decision is expected. It has several aspects. First, Germany has ceased to be a partner of "what you will", and for this it is being punished, " the Senator said.
The second aspect, according to him, is that the candidates for replacement were long ago, and they were ready to pay for it with their own security.
"The truth is, not disinterested. It is clear that they will receive additional financial injections, " Morozov said.
The third aspect the Senator called the fact that there is a convenient excuse to "move" the missiles closer to Russia. "The answer will be obvious - we will change the goals and put under attack new zones of deployment of American troops" - concluded Morozov.
The head of the International Committee of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev said that the US needs its presence in Europe more than Europe itself, and the deployment of additional forces in the Eastern countries of the continent violates the NATO - Russia Founding Act.
"Let's start with the fact that the "headquarters of US forces in Europe", wherever it is located, is an absolute anachronism of the cold war, when in the conditions of a divided Europe, Western Europeans really needed US military coverage. Now if someone needs such a cover, it is only the Americans themselves, who continue to provoke splits in Europe on the principle of "divide and rule", - said the Senator.
According to the politician, as long as NATO remains, the countries of the alliance can agree among themselves where and what military forces to keep. "They can, but with one exception. We are talking about Eastern European countries that joined the alliance after 1997," he added.
Kosachev recalled that the "The NATO - Russia Founding Act" appeared at that time, which explicitly prohibited the permanent deployment of significant armed forces and weapons on the territory of "newbies". "Poland and the Baltic States, of course, fall into this category. And the deployment of American troops there will be a direct and aggressive violation of the Act, " the politician concluded.
Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Defense Yuri Shvytkin believes that the transfer of the US military to the borders of Russia is being undertaken in order to escalate tensions near the borders of the Russian Federation.
"It is unclear who is being held back, our country is not going to attack anyone, but at the same time, this leads to an escalation of tension and instability near our borders," Shvytkin told RIA Novosti.
Shvytkin noted that if we talk about the European continent in general, the United States feels "at home" there, and those countries that provide their territories for maneuvers by the United States do not think about the present and future of their states and peoples.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Federation Council