“Recently, NATO has initiated a new stage in the expansion of the alliance through the entry of Sweden and Finland into the military bloc,” RIA Novosti quotes him.
Shoigu stressed that the assertion that the Russian special operation was the reason for this is not true, since the practical rapprochement of these countries with the alliance has been going on for many years.
“In fact, the regional association NORDEFCO (Committee for Nordic Defense Cooperation) is the northern branch of NATO and serves as a front to cover up the participation of these countries in joint combat training activities,” he stressed.
On August 9, US President Joe Biden signed protocols on ratification in the United States of agreements on the admission of Finland and Sweden to NATO.