Russian President Vladimir Putin announced last Friday that Russia is being forced into a new arms race by the ambitions of Europe and the United States.

As America works toward constructing a missile defense shield in Eastern Europe, and as the European Union continues to pull Ukraine into the European sphere of influence, Russia is becoming concerned.

In his speech before the Russian State Council, Putin said,

nato itself is expanding. It’s approaching our borders. We drew down our bases in Cuba and in Vietnam. What did we get? New American bases in Romania, Bulgaria. A new third missile defense region in Poland.We are categorically being told these actions aren’t directed at Russia and therefore our concerns are completely unfounded. That’s not a constructive response.It’s already clear that a new arms race is being unleashed across the world …. It’s not our fault, we didn’t start it.

Whether Putin started this arms race or not, he is definitely a participant.

“Over the next several years, Russia should start the production of new types of weapons systems, which are in no way inferior to what other states have, and in some cases are superior,” he said.

Truth is, Putin has already been busy strengthening Russia’s military. Late last year, for example, he suspended the treaty that limited the number of Russian troops that could legally be deployed on the European border. He has deployed increasing numbers of Russian ships to the Mediterranean Sea and increased ship production to the point where Russia’s navy could easily become the world’s second-largest within a generation. Now Putin wants to produce new weapons systems in order to keep up with Western ambitions.

How will Russia’s neighbor, Europe, respond to this arms buildup?

Putin has already threatened to aim Russian nuclear missiles at Ukraine if it joins nato or allows any part of America’s missile defense system on Ukrainian territory.

Europe has to be concerned about this emerging military giant on its eastern border. Tensions between Europe and Russia are high over Kosovo, over European reliance on Russia for natural gas and oil, and over the “arms race.” The buildup of Russian armaments will be a stimulus for the ongoing development of Europe’s military—that is, after all, how an arms race works. As this arms race becomes more energetic, watch Europe.