"Obviously, NATO considers the Eastern European region as the most likely theater of military operations," RIA Novosti quoted Patrushev as saying.
In particular, this is evidenced by the military exercises "Defender of Europe-2022", held in 19 European states, he specified.
Patrushev also called the alliance a foreign policy instrument of one state.
“NATO is used as an instrument of foreign policy, in fact, one country.
This is being done very aggressively and exacerbates an already difficult international security environment,” he concluded.
Earlier, Patrushev expressed concern that the military infrastructure of the North Atlantic Alliance came close to the borders of Russia and Belarus.
In May, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Belarus Ruslan Kosygin said that Western countries, which have significantly increased their forces near the borders of Russia and Belarus and are conducting large-scale exercises, are, in fact, preparing for military operations.
He also said that on the basis of NATO troops concentrated near the borders of Russia and Belarus, strike groups could be created.