Putin: Still suspicious of NATO

Vladimir Putin has never been a big fan of NATO, seeing it as a Cold War relic still directed against Russia rather than a military alliance unsure of its own mission (but that’s a subject for another blog altogether).

Today he’s on a trip to Sweden and took the chance to reiterate his worries about NATO expansion. This has long been a favorite topic in Russia, which does not want to see Georgia and Ukraine, its ex-Soviet neighbors, join.

“The expansion of NATO infrastructure towards our borders is causing us concern,” Putin told reporters in Stockholm. “NATO is not simply a political bloc, it is a military bloc. No one cancelled the agreements on how the bloc reacts to external threats. It is a defense structure.”

Putin’s renewed worry over the alliance comes on the back of his increasing criticism of the entangled conflict in Libya. During a visit to Denmark on Tuesday he launched what the New York Times called “an extended, caustic attack on the NATO campaign,” saying it violated the wishes of Libyans.

“When the so-called civilized community, with all its might, pounces on a small country, and ruins infrastructure that has been built over generations – well, I don’t know, is this good or bad?” Putin asked. “I do not like it.” No, he doesn’t.