Is NATO looking to expand into Asia?

NATO could begin a new wave of expansion by the end of this decade, admitting new members in Asia to gain an advantage in its confrontation with some regional powers that tend to disagree with Washington's foreign policy. This assessment was made by a Russian lawmaker on September 24.

Specifically, General Viktor Sobolev, a member of the Russian Communist Party, stated that the US-led military bloc could include Japan and South Korea in the medium term.

He said, "It's clear that Westerners have mapped out the militarization of Asia," adding that the US will do everything in its power to "draw" the two countries into the bloc, in order to put pressure on Russia, China, and North Korea.

According to the Russian Telegram channel Taynaya Kantselyaria, the parliamentarian stated: “Obviously, this cannot happen immediately in the next two to three years, but such an outcome could occur within the next five years. Our political and military leadership must consider this issue very seriously; it is a real and very real threat.”

Sobolev's remarks came after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated earlier this month that NATO is seeking to deploy its forces and military infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific region in an attempt to hinder regional powers.

Meanwhile, in August, Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested that the US-led alliance could eventually merge with AUKUS, a regional security treaty first announced in 2021 by Australia, the UK, and the US amid rising tensions between the West and China. As part of this agreement, Australia is preparing to purchase its first nuclear-powered submarines, expected to enter service in the early 2030s.

Commenting on the possibility of a merger between the two blocs, Putin stated at the time that the US was seeking to "reshape the system of interaction between developed countries in the Asia-Pacific region."