Russia has reacted to planned NATO exercises near its border with Finland, warning that they increase the risk of “possible military incidents”.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told state news agency RIA that the drills are “provocative.”
“NATO’s military exercises near the Russian borders are provocative. Their task is to exert military pressure on the Russian Federation through a show of force. The exercises… increase the risks of potential military incidents,” she said.
Finland officially joined NATO earlier this month, almost two years after applying in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
It shares a 1,340-km (832-mile) border with Russia, so its admission to NATO doubles the Alliance’s relationship with Russia.
