JAKARTA - Russia has confirmed that it will strengthen its troops near the borders of Western countries, along with the registration of Finland and Sweden as members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Russian Defense Minister, Sergei Shoigu, said on Friday Finland and Sweden's move to join NATO was part of an increased military threat near Russia's western border. Thus, Russia took "adequate precautions".
He said Russia would respond by setting up 12 units and divisions in its western military district and was working to increase the fighting strength of its forces.
"Tensions continue to rise in the Western Military District's zone of responsibility. We are taking adequate precautions", Shoigu said, reported by Reuters on May 20.
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that Sweden and Finland's NATO membership poses no threat to Russia. But he warned Moscow would respond if the alliance boosts military infrastructure in both countries.
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This week Finland and Sweden officially applied for NATO membership, a move that was unthinkable before Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, reports Euronews.
Finland shares a 1,300 km land border with Russia, while the strategically important Swedish island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea, and only 300 km from the militarized Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.
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