Moscow will take adequate precautionarymeasures if NATO deploys nuclear forces and infrastructurecloser to Russia’s border, Russian news agencies quoted DeputyForeign Minister Alexander Grushko as saying on Saturday.

“It will be necessary to respond … by taking adequateprecautionary measures that would ensure the viability ofdeterrence,” Interfax agency quoted Grushko as saying.

Moscow has no hostile intentions towards Finland and Swedenand does not see “real” reasons for those two countries to bejoining the NATO alliance, Grushko added.

He also reiterated the Kremlin’s earlier statement thatMoscow’s response to NATO’s possible expansion will depend onhow close the alliance moves military assets towards Russia andwhat infrastructure it deploys.

Finland’s plan to apply for NATO membership, announced onThursday, and the expectation that Sweden will follow, wouldbring about the expansion of the Western military alliance thatRussian President Vladimir Putin aimed to prevent.