Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 2, 2017. (AFP photo)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has again criticized the expansion of NATO, saying the Western military alliance has become a tool in the hand of the United States to advance its foreign policy.

Once a country becomes a NATO member, it is hard to resist the pressures of the US. And all of a sudden any weapons system can be placed in this country, Putin said in an interview aired late on Tuesday, while calling NATO an instrument of Americas foreign policy.

The Russian president said Moscow would not remain idle and watch NATOs increased military activity at its western borders, adding that the alliance was committing a big, glaring mistake by engaging in more build-up at Russias doorsteps as it would drag both the United States and Russia into a new arms race.

He said Russia would show a suitable response to NATOs eastward expansion, adding that Moscows countermeasures would be much cheaper, if not quite as technologically advanced.

It may be [rough] but it will be effective. We shall preserve this so-called strategic balance, Putin said.

The president also argued against claims by the United States that NATOs deployment of missile systems in eastern European countries was to deter potential threats from countries such as Iran, saying he did not see any point in NATO's expansion after the demise of the Soviet Union and now that Iran and world powers had agreed on a deal on Tehrans nuclear program.

Iran has abandoned all nuclear military weapons programs. The United States agreed with it and signed the corresponding document. However, the missile defense program with its elements in Europe continues further. Against whom is it aimed?" Putin said.

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Russian president says NATO instrument of US foreign policy - Press TV