The United States' plan to send station tanks and heavy weapons in NATO states on Russia's border has been met with a declaration of certain retaliation by Russia, which states that the American military fortifications would be the most aggressive U.S. act since the Cold War.
The U.S. has offered to store a significant amount of military equipment on allies' territory in Eastern Europe, partly in order to placate governments that their countries are next in line after Ukraine, where violent conflicts with suspected Russian involvement are prominent, according to Today Online.
Some countries, such as Baltic States nations and Poland, have declared their support for the possible American involvement. Officials from these countries have made their frustration known about NATO's indecision on the current, controversial moves by Russia, according to Reuters.
Some other countries, however, are wary of the development, fearing that they will suffer from a Russian military backlash if the U.S.' moves will trigger another arms race between the United States and Russia.
Russian defense ministry official General Yuri Yakubov has provided Russia's stance loud and clear.
"If heavy U.S. military equipment, including tanks, artillery batteries and other equipment really does turn up in countries in eastern Europe and the Baltics, that will be the most aggressive step by the Pentagon and NATO since the Cold War," he declared.
"Russia will have no option but to build up its forces and resources on the Western strategic front," he added.
Yabukov further said that Russian retaliation would involve the deployment of Iskander missiles to Kaliningrad, a Russian enclave bordered by Poland and Lithuania. Russia would also fortify its military presence in ex-Soviet Belarus, according to Reuters.
"Our hands are completely free to organize retaliatory steps to strengthen our Western frontiers," he said.
