MOSCOW. Feb 20 (Interfax) - NATO is building up its forces near Russia's borders and is increasing its military budget, Vladimir Shamanov, the head of the State Duma defense committee, said on Monday.
"NATO's military budget has been increased by $26 billion," Shamanov said while meeting with the foreign military attaches accredited in Moscow at the State Duma.
Independent analysts estimate this budget now at "being within $920 billion," he said.
Moscow continues to observe NATO to intensively increase its military forces near Russia's borders, Shamanov said.
Meetings between the Duma defense committee leadership and foreign military attaches accredited in Russia routinely take place every year. This year, the meeting dealt with the State Duma's legislative support of national defense in 2016.