Russia denies intention to attack others

Russia: Russia denied on Tuesday the intention to attack other countries in the wake of the approval of its new military doctrine and described the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)'s expansion to the East as a threat.

Secretary of the Russian Security Council Nikolai Patrushev dispelled concerns and speculations about any Moscow intention in this regard with the approval of the military doctrine of this year by making clear that his country will use the nuclear weapon as a deterrent.

However, in case of an aggression against Russia or its allies with nuclear weapons or other type of weapon of mass destruction, it will use its nuclear power.

The same will apply if an attack with conventional arms is able to put in danger the very existence of the State, he said.

The response would be similar in case of Russian allies, Belarus in the first place, and mainly the countries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), he said.

Patrushev recalled that the document responds to current changes in the world and in the country, and highlighted the threat the NATO expansion to the East poses to national security.

The beefing up of NATO troops in countries bordering Russia constitutes a threat to national security, said Patrushev, who is also the Chief of the Federal Security Service. Moscow, Prensa Latina