Russia's foreign minister has condemned the economic union's "radical transformation" into an aggressive military bloc

The European Union is turning into an extension of NATO, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday. 

During a speech at an international forum in Moscow, Lavrov recalled that the EU was initially formed as an economic union that was meant to make life better for its residents in a "socio-economic sense."

The bloc has undergone a "radical transformation," he claimed, becoming an "aggressive military-political bloc" that is "essentially a branch, or rather an appendage of NATO."

Lavrov pointed to an agreement signed between the EU and NATO under which EU member countries, even those that are not part of the military bloc, would be obligated to allow NATO troops and equipment to pass through their territory to an eastern front when required.

The Russian foreign minister said such arrangements mean EU countries are "directly involved in preparations for war against our country."

Lavrov's remarks come as US President Donald Trump released screenshots of a series of grovelling messages from NATO chief Mark Rutte in which the former Dutch PM celebrated US attacks on Iran, aped Trump's writing style and boasted of ensuring EU members more-than-double military spending, citing an alleged Russian threat. 

Last month, EU member states also adopted a 150 billion ($170 billion) debt plan to fund arms production and military procurement.

Russia has consistently maintained that it harbors no hostile intent towards any EU nation, dismissing the accusations as "nonsense" and fearmongering used to justify increased military spending.

Moscow has also condemned the EU's new debt initiative, describing it as a continuation of the bloc's hostile policies and militarization. Russian officials have warned that the spending hikes are tantamount to an "incitement to war on the European continent."

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