….During his annual review of Russia’s foreign policy January 22-23 [2008] (ref B), [[Foreign Minister Lavrov]] stressed that Russia had to view continued eastward expansion of NATO, particularly to Ukraine and Georgia, as a potential [[military]] threat. While Russia might believe statements from [[the West]] that NATO was not directed against Russia, when one looked at recent military activities in NATO countries (establishment of U.S. forward operating locations, etc. they had to be evaluated not by stated intentions but by potential…. While Russian opposition to the first round of NATO enlargement in the mid-1990’s was strong, Russia now feels itself able to respond more forcefully to what it perceives as actions contrary to its national interests."<ref>https://archive.ph/NV0B7</ref>}} | ….During his annual review of Russia’s foreign policy January 22-23 [2008] (ref B), [[Foreign Minister Lavrov]] stressed that Russia had to view continued eastward expansion of NATO, particularly to Ukraine and Georgia, as a potential [[military]] threat. While Russia might believe statements from [[the West]] that NATO was not directed against Russia, when one looked at recent military activities in NATO countries (establishment of U.S. forward operating locations, etc. they had to be evaluated not by stated intentions but by potential…. While Russian opposition to the first round of NATO enlargement in the mid-1990’s was strong, Russia now feels itself able to respond more forcefully to what it perceives as actions contrary to its national interests."<ref>https://archive.ph/NV0B7</ref>}} |