Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that NATO, under the pretext of ensuring its own security, in fact seeks global control, interfering in economic processes around the world.
Sergey Lavrov emphasized that despite promises not to expand the North Atlantic Alliance and not to deploy permanent armed forces on the territories of new members, NATO has violated these agreements by bringing its military infrastructure closer to Russia’s borders.
“NATO was created to defend the territory of its members. They promised us not to expand the alliance. They did. In 1997 we signed a special document. We saw the expansion, but we wanted to limit the damage to ourselves as much as possible. Signed an agreement with NATO that they would not station permanent armed forces on the territory of new members. They have continued to do so. Now it is already on our borders,” said the Russian Foreign Minister during a meeting with participants of the scientific and educational program ‘Dialogue for the Future’.
The foreign minister also pointed to the creation of new military blocs by NATO, including AUKUS (USA, Australia, UK), and the integration of nuclear planning elements into military projects with Japan and South Korea.
The foreign minister emphasized that NATO’s presence in Eurasia and adjacent seas is driven by the desire to control economic processes and deter competitors through sanctions: “Right now Russia is the record holder for them.” They also extend to other countries, such as Iran, DPRK and, increasingly, China. According to the Russian foreign minister, this shows a struggle for resources and global influence, where the US seeks a monopoly position that excludes strong competitors.
“There is a struggle for resources, and ultimately a struggle for influence. The Americans made a decision for themselves long ago and proclaimed it. The goal of the U.S. should be to ensure a state of the world where there is no one closely competing with America. This is what we are now, in fact, observing,” – said Sergei Lavrov.
Earlier, the Greek newspaper Kathimerini reported that Cypriot President Nicos Christodoulidis had discussed with US President Joe Biden a strategy for the island’s gradual rapprochement with NATO.
