Response to NATO buildup will be "political and military"

Response to NATO buildup will be "political and military"

MOSCOW -- Any further expansion of NATO forces near its borders would be considered by Russia as "a demonstration of hostile intentions," it has been announced in Moscow.

The country's response to this scenario would include "political and military measures" aimed at "reliably safeguarding its own security," Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Titov said on Monday.

In an interview for Interfax, Titov also stated that "it would be hard to see additional deployment of substantial NATO military forces in central-eastern Europe, even if on a rotational basis, as anything else but a direct violation of provisions of the 1997 Founding Act on relations between Russia and NATO."

Several days ago U.S. President Barack Obama "offered increased military support for eastern European NATO members to ease their concerns over Moscow," Reuters reported.