SpaceWar.com - Your World At War
Putin says NATO rearmament not a 'threat' to Russia
Saint Petersburg, June 18 (AFP) Jun 18, 2025
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that NATO's push to ramp up defence spending was not a "threat" to Russia, as Moscow had all the weapons it needed to defend itself.

The military alliance is pushing members to increase their defence spending to five percent of GDP, under pressure from US President Donald Trump.

"We do not consider any rearmament by NATO to be a threat to the Russian Federation, because we are self-sufficient in terms of ensuring our own security," Putin told reporters, including AFP, at a televised press conference in Saint Petersburg.

He added that Russia was "constantly modernising our armed forces and defensive capabilities".

Though he conceded higher spending by NATO would create some "specific" challenges for Russia, the Kremlin leader said it makes "no sense" for NATO members themselves.

"We will counter all threats that arise. There is no doubt about that," he said.

Putin has cast his offensive in Ukraine as part of a wider conflict between Russia and NATO.

Kyiv is seeking security guarantees from NATO as part of any deal to end the fighting, more than three years after Russia ordered its full-scale military offensive.


ADVERTISEMENT




Space News from SpaceDaily.com
NASA discovers third interstellar comet
Red, white and blue on the Red Planet
Growing evidence for evolving Dark Energy could inspire a new model of the Universe

24/7 Energy News Coverage
Bezos-backed methane-tracking satellite lost in space
Blackout at refinery highlights Venezuela's oil industry crisis
Meta spending big on AI talent but will it pay off?

Military Space News, Nuclear Weapons, Missile Defense
China launches international association to boost global access to deep space research
Planet secures 240 million euro satellite services contract with German government
Planet expands defense partnerships with key AI surveillance contracts

24/7 News Coverage
Consortium plans global shift toward net negative carbon economy
Six satellites launched for ICEYE as constellation expansion gains momentum
WHO says all Covid-19 origin theories still open, after inconclusive study



All rights reserved. Copyright Agence France-Presse. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse.