Diplomat: NATO Will Continue to Pose a Security Threat to Russia

Russia predicts that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will continue to pose a threat to its security in various regions, according to Vladislav Maslennikov, Director of the European Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry. “NATO will continue to pursue a confrontational agenda against Russia and practically pose a threat to our security in various geographical areas and operational environments,” Maslennikov told RIA Novosti. Regarding the upcoming NATO summit scheduled for 7-8 July 2026 in Ankara, Turkiye, Maslennikov noted that the focus is expected to be on strengthening transatlantic ties and implementing decisions from the 2025 NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands. These decisions include increasing military spending to 5 percent of GDP by 2035, expanding defence industrial capacity, and providing aid to Ukraine. “The Russian issue will undoubtedly be discussed in the context of these current items. It is difficult to say how much progress NATO will make in this area,” the diplomat said.