Cold War Nearing Rebirth»

Russia's defense minister has repeated an earlier warning to NATO that he may order a build-up of the country's nuclear defenses should the US-led alliance continue to expand and take an unfriendly view of Moscow.

Sergei Ivanov said the NATO was following an aggressive strategy and treating Russia as a threat rather than a partner. "If NATO continues to keep to its offensive military doctrine, then Russia's military planning and the principles of Russia's military procurement -- including in the nuclear sphere -- will be adequately reevaluated," Ivanov said.

"Russia is carefully observing the process of NATO's transformation," said Ivanov, who is seen as one of President Vladimir Putin's closest political allies in government. He said that some new NATO members both "directly and indirectly" display anti-Russian policies.