RUSSIA is working out to boost its air defense force near Finland after the Nordic country joined North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Moscow is willing to spend millions of dollars to strengthen the defense of its Northwestern borders triggered by Finland’s entry into the world’s largest military alliance.
The commander of the Russian military air defense and missile defense forces revealed of Kremlin’s plan to boost its borders near Finland as the Nordic country officially became the 31 members of NATO last week, Finland shares a 1,300-km border with Russia.
According to Lieutenant General Andrei Demin, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Aerospace Forces as well as the Commander of the Air Defense and Anti-Aircraft Defense Forces, Russia is working out the issue of protecting the state border in the Northwest of the country in line with increased threats as Finland joined NATO and Sweden prepares to enter the military alliance.
“Finland joined the NATO bloc. Sweden is preparing to join the alliance. In these conditions, our air defense forces are working out the issue of protecting the state border in the Northwest of the country in accordance with increased threats,” said Lt. Gen. Andrei Demi, Russian Aerospace Forces Deputy Commander.
The Russian Deputy Commander added that Moscow deployed more than 50 mobile radar stations, an A-50 early warning and control aircraft that patrols 24 hours a day, including missile and anti-aircraft installations in regions next to Ukraine.
Joining NATO places Finland under NATO’s collective defense pledge known as article five which states “An armed attack against one is an armed attack against them all.”
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov warned that Russia will closely monitor how NATO will use Finland’s territory and vowed to respond against any potential threat.
The Russian spokesperson however noted that Finland was never anti-Russia and that Moscow has no disputes with the Nordic country.
Kremlin also warned it would be forced to take countermeasures regarding Finland’s accession to NATO which it described as another escalation and threat to its security and interests.
