Russia must strengthen army to defend itself - Putin
 

MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday Russia must strengthen its armed forces to protect its sovereignty against the "challenge" posed by other countries that might threaten Moscow.

Putin's comments reinforced his commitment to an expensive programme to modernise the armed forces, which the Finance Ministry has signalled will be excluded from any budget cuts forced on the government by a growing economic crisis.

"We will continue to strengthen our armed forces and military organisations as a whole by making them modern, mobile, well-equipped and capable of performing their main task - to neutralise risks and political, potential threats to the security of our country," Putin told a meeting of Russia's industry commission.

Putin identified no specific threats but Russia's new military doctrine says NATO expansion is a threat.

Putin has also accused the United States of trying to subjugate Russia, has blamed the West for the overthrow of a Moscow-backed president in Ukraine last year and has said Washington stoked protests against him three years ago.

"We see how other countries are open about their geopolitical claims, and do not hesitate to interfere openly in the affairs of independent states while actively expanding and improving their military arsenals," Putin said.

"They spend many times more than we spend (on arms). We can and must respond to this challenge," he said.

Well if im just a bystander and I look on the chess board, I'd say "good move".

so you can expect a similar move from ukraine that will probably receive more help...

for me, Putin is just plain paranoid. Just because other countries are expanding and improving their forces doesnt mean theyre eyeing on Russia.

This gets too complicated a discussion (especially for a cat) and there's a lot to it but the key thing is "not eyeing, at war with..."

Perhaps you missed it: We’re at war with Russia - MarketWatch

Translation, they are hurting and the only way to keep people in jobs and not rioting is to make more govt jobs.. ie Military.

http://media.theweek.com/img/generic/MajorBases.jpg

What would a U.S.-Russia war look like?


The main bases are near the middle east and also near russia..

World war 3 lets go.

It might not be surprise that there are military bases in Europe, especially countries own bases. There even wasn't most closest ones, like for example bases in Baltic countries. Those can be used as any other base, if the only criteria is that the country belongs to NATO.

But the situation is very worrisome for Austria, look how they are surrounded. Someone has put so many coutries around it. :)

Russian USSR predecessors spent the national wealth on militarization that the USSR people could not support -- remember what happened? History repeats itself (always).

Former KGB Lt. Colonel Vladimir Putin -- I wonder where he got his ideas? :upsidedow

Funny you should say that, I just was thinking about how the nearly 600 facilities around world along with the nearly 4500 US bases (according to Pornmasta source) is reminiscent of how the UK over extended itself before the empire ultimately collapsed around a century ago.... the US expansion is also a cost that is no longer affordable.

So be careful about history repeating itself - its very true.

If there is any common thread it's certainly not in the fall of the British Empire.

That came at a tumultuous negotiated end after WW2.

I never said it was..... only that it is "reminiscent of how the UK over extended itself before the empire ultimately collapsed".

not very surprising, when do the nato reinforcements fully deploy?