11.07.2025, Moscow.
NATO is striving to establish a political and diplomatic front aimed at containing Russia and China in Asia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated on July 11 in response to a question from Rossiyskaya Gazeta regarding ASEAN’s role in ensuring regional security.
According to Lavrov, the alliance is actively seeking to penetrate the region and deploy its infrastructure there.
“I have no doubt that ASEAN countries understand what’s at stake. They are being offered to formally remain ASEAN members while simultaneously joining structures that are inherently closed and alliance-oriented,” Lavrov said.
The foreign minister stressed that Western countries are working toward forming a “political and diplomatic front for the containment of China and Russia.” Nevertheless, Lavrov expressed respect for the sovereign choices of the countries in the region.
“It is the sovereign choice of the regional countries, and we will regard it as such. But preserving ASEAN unity is in everyone’s interest,” the minister emphasized.
He highlighted the importance of maintaining the integrity of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as a key element of regional stability.
On July 10, 2025, Russian and Chinese foreign ministers Sergey Lavrov and Wang Yi spoke out against NATO’s plans to militarize the Asia-Pacific region (APR). The statement came following their meeting on the sidelines of ASEAN events in Kuala Lumpur.
In a joint declaration, Moscow and Beijing emphasized their unified opposition to efforts to expand military presence in the region, particularly protesting against the deployment of infrastructure built to NATO standards in the APR.
Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency
