Zakharova Says Time Ripe for NATO to Retire

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that the time is ripe for NATO to retire, as it is trying to make the world a more dangerous place.

Zakharova pointed out that the alliance is resisting the emergence of alternative centers of power, highlighting its ambition to spread its influence beyond the Euro-Atlantic area.

The Russian official commented on a meeting of the NATO foreign ministers held to mark the alliance’s 74th anniversary.

"We hear the alliance’s Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg speculate ever more often about a global role of the alliance. Everything is being done to make the world even more dangerous, to prevent the existence of alternative centers of power capable of undermining the hegemony of the West,” she mentioned.

“In general, one can state with certainty that security and NATO are incompatible. In this regard, there is only one conclusion that readily offers itself - at 74 years of age it is time for the North Atlantic bloc to retire," Zakharova said.

The spokeswoman indicated that NATO is trying to "usurp the entire system of European security through Finland's accession."

She added: "Finland has become another victim of the North Atlantic Alliance.”