Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has condemned statements made by NATO Military Committee Chairman Rob Bauer on November 25, accusing the alliance of revealing its true intentions by discussing preemptive strikes against Russia in a potential conflict.
"Just the other day, the head of the NATO Military Committee, Mr. Bauer, openly stated that, to protect and defend NATO member countries, it would be necessary to preemptively strike targets in Russia that NATO deems threatening," Lavrov said on Tuesday during a meeting of CIS security and intelligence chiefs. This was reported by the Russian media outlet Interfax.
According to Lavrov, Bauer’s comments expose NATO’s real agenda.
"All decency has been cast aside," Lavrov remarked. "Their true intentions are now being openly declared."
Bauer’s statement, made earlier this week, suggested that in the event of a potential conflict with Russia, NATO should "strike first" with precision attacks to disable systems that could pose a threat to alliance members.
The remarks have further escalated tensions between NATO and Russia, which remain at odds over a range of security and geopolitical issues. Moscow has repeatedly criticized NATO’s actions and rhetoric as provocative, framing them as evidence of the alliance’s expansionist aims.
