(News) Riabkov on the possibility of deploying Russian military infrastructure in Cuba and Venezuela: "I do not want to confirm or rule out anything"

[Askor lml]

"It depends on the actions of the American colleagues," said Russia's deputy foreign minister.

The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergei Riabkov, commented this Thursday during an interview with the RTVI channel on the possibility of deploying Russian military infrastructure in countries outside of Europe, such as Cuba or Venezuela.

"I don't want to confirm anything or rule out anything," he pointed out. "In the American way, the optionality of foreign and military policy is the cornerstone to ensure the powerful influence of that country in the world. It depends on the actions of American colleagues," Riabkov said.

The senior official recalled that Vladimir Putin has repeatedly spoken about what measures can be taken, for example, in connection with the Russian Navy, "if things go completely in the direction of provoking Russia and further strengthening military pressure" on Moscow. from Washington. "We don't want this, diplomats must come to an agreement," he said.

"What are US troops doing thousands of miles from their bases?"
According to Riabkov, "Russia is now NATO's main opponent only because it strives to firmly and consistently defend its own interests and cares for their security."
Regarding questions from the West about the concentration of Russian troops on its own territory, the deputy foreign minister said he can ask a counter question: "What are US troops doing thousands of kilometers from their bases?" In his opinion, this cannot be explained by alliance security issues, as this security "should not be provided to the detriment of other countries."

About security guarantees
Speaking on other aspects of foreign policy, Riabkov stated that the US and its NATO allies are not prepared "under any circumstances" to meet Moscow's key demands on security guarantees, such as the non-expansion of the NATO to the east, reducing the infrastructure of the alliance and not deploying its systems in the immediate vicinity of the Russian borders.

The Deputy Foreign Minister regretted that the US and NATO are willing to speak only about those issues of security guarantees that are convenient for them. "In key elements of these texts, the US and its allies actually say 'no' to us, and in those that say 'yes, let's continue discussing', we observe that, although these issues are important and serious, they are secondary to the non-expansion of NATO, "he said. "It is, to some extent, a dead end or a difference in approach," Riabkov said.

"The Americans want [...] to unburden themselves of the Russian position, relieve the pressure" and, hiding behind this, "continue the same process of geopolitical and military development of more new territories, getting closer and closer to Moscow," said the diplomat. . "We have nowhere to retreat," he said, adding that Russia will take "other measures and methods" in relation to the West if the US and NATO do not heed Russian demands.

About Ukraine
On the other hand, the high charged stressed that the US is escalating the situation near the Russian borders. In addition, he warned that "there could be any provocation", especially when Russia has "neighbors like present-day Ukraine, which revels in the illusion of revenge, is looking for reasons to finally abandon the implementation of the Minsk package of measures, and that it speculates with the reckless and unbridled support of the West. "

"We will not allow anyone to be blamed for the potentially very serious consequences of this. We simply warn that a NATO rollback is needed," he said.

News brought by

https://actualidad.rt.com/