Story perspectives

Putin Warns NATO Pacific Weapons Threaten Russia

8/13/2026

Summary

Story summary

President Vladimir Putin warned that NATO plans to send weapons to the Pacific, which he says threaten Russia.
United States deployed F-35 jets to northern Japan in late March and fired a Typhon missile in the Philippines in May.
Italy sent an air-defence ship to the Pacific in early May.
Russia installed anti-drone nets at its Rybachiy submarine base, the Pacific Fleet hub that houses nuclear-armed submarines.

History

Historical Context

From 24 March to 10 June 1999 NATO conducted Operation Allied Force, a 78-day air campaign against Yugoslavia that used 15 member states, over 2,000 aircraft and more than 38,000 combat missions. Conducted without UN Security Council approval, it caused thousands of civilian deaths and proved NATO could act beyond Europe. Vladimir Putin’s warning over NATO F-35 shipments to Japan recalls that precedent, shaping Indo-Pacific security calculations.

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Story summary

President Vladimir Putin warned that NATO plans to send weapons to the Pacific, which he says threaten Russia.
United States deployed F-35 jets to northern Japan in late March and fired a Typhon missile in the Philippines in May.
Italy sent an air-defence ship to the Pacific in early May.
Russia installed anti-drone nets at its Rybachiy submarine base, the Pacific Fleet hub that houses nuclear-armed submarines.

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