Russia poses no threat to NATO - Foreign Ministry

MOSCOW. March 9 (Interfax) - Russia does not threaten NATO but cannot help but react to its confrontational course in its regard, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said.

"Don't be scared. Russia has never threatened the alliance and it is not threatening it now. At the same time, Russia cannot help but react to the confrontational course of NATO in regard to our country," Zakharova said at a press briefing on Wednesday.

The enhancement of NATO forces on the eastern flank "is clearly provocative" and is not contributing to the strengthening of European security, she said.

"Obviously, deterrence of Russia has again become the primary objective of the bloc. In the past few days, the alliance has increased the size of its multinational forces in eastern Europe, the number of patrolling planes, etc.," Zakharova said.