ASEAN sees Russia as a stabilizing factor balancing NATO's ambitions in the Asia-Pacific
The possible deployment of US nuclear weapons in Southeast Asia would increase security risks in the region, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
“In NATO, the Americans have long distributed their nuclear weapons to their partners. They call this a joint nuclear mission, within which non-nuclear states have the opportunity to train their military personnel to use nuclear weapons. If this sad and rather risky experience is brought back to Southeast Asia, I think it will lead to even more risks,” the Russian foreign minister said at a press conference after a visit to Malaysia.
Mr. Lavrov noted that the United States is “arrogantly” introducing strategic weapons and “introducing elements of nuclear deterrence into the militarization of Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region, especially within the framework of the AUKUS project - the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia - where nuclear submarines will be provided with technologies that need to be controlled by the IAEA and an agreement on joint nuclear deterrence has been signed between the United States and South Korea.
“Southeast Asian countries see us as a balancing and stabilizing factor in terms of countering the actions of extra-regional powers led by the United States, which are actually boosting their military infrastructure, including strategic weapons,” Lavrov asserted.
Referring to the Israel-Hamas conflict, Foreign Minister Lavrov pointed out that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu considers the complete elimination of Hamas a prerequisite for a ceasefire in Gaza, but this goal is unrealistic. "There is no prospect of ending this bloodshed. Israel, through Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu, in response to the call for a ceasefire, said that they would not stop until Hamas was completely eliminated. "In my opinion and in the opinion of many of my colleagues who share this view, eliminating an organization that currently exists, has sufficient capabilities and sufficient support, including in the Muslim world, is an unrealistic task," the Russian Foreign Minister asserted.
Mr Lavrov pointed out that some countries are trying to come up with new compromise proposals calling for a gradual end to the violence, “because Israel refuses an immediate ceasefire”. “Some Arab countries, Egypt and Qatar are working with the Americans, and they are also holding some meetings with the Israelis.
In my opinion, it is not good that the Palestinians are excluded from meetings designed to ultimately decide their future. In this regard, we will continue to help restore Palestinian unity," Foreign Minister Lavrov concluded.
