Lavrov blasts US "manipulation" of the dollar, NATO advance towards Russia’s borders

Confrontation and tension in relations between Russia and the United States are rising, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday.

"As for political fervor and rhetoric that go beyond what used to be considered diplomatic courtesy not long ago, confrontation and tension are mounting," he said in an interview with the Bolshaya Igra (Big Game) on Russian Channel One TV.

"The United States triggered NATO’s movement towards our borders not just by admitting new members from among Russia’s neighbors but also by deploying military infrastructure along our borders," he said.

Lavrov added that Washington is using the dollar as a tool to exert pressure while violating its liabilities.

"The most vivid example [of the rules the US requests others follow] is the dollar, the international currency system. Is it a rule? I think it is. Everyone has accepted it, they’ve been living with this precept for decades hoping the US would unwaveringly fulfill its obligations as the issuer of this key global reserve currency," he said.

"What is now happening to the dollar? Washington is manipulating the dollar at its discretion," he added.

According to the Russian top diplomat, the United States is using the dollar as an instrument when "it wants to punish anyone." "They immediately stop servicing any dollar-denominated banking operations. Notably, they do that not only in respect to a country they want to punish, but also in respect to all others who have any relation with it whatsoever," he noted.