Russia to re-arm and boost its nuclear forces

Russia said it would re-arm its military and boost its nuclear forces in response to the expansion of NATO to its western frontiers and the increased threat of international terrorism. Russia perceives Nato’s eastern expansion, coupled with US plans to deploy a ballistic missile shields in eastern Europe, as a threat to its national security. The creation of a modern army was crucial to protect Russia against outside aggression and underpin the growing of the economy and wellbeing of citizens, said Russian President.
Mr Medvedev admitted that the war with Georgia last summer had exposed shortcomings in the Russian military that should be rapidly redressed. Although Russia’s military campaign in Georgia was successful, the war exposed the army’s lack of modern equipment and the top-heavy bureaucracy. Russia has since launched plans to transform the army into a lighter more agile force. It has also raised hackles in NATO by establishing military bases in Georgia’s breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and announcing plans to base part of its Black Sea fleet on the Abkhazian coast.