NATO Seeks to Impose Its Will on Asia, Constructive Response Needed – Lavrov

Oct 16, 2026 at 04:03 PM

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Lanka Leader

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday that NATO is attempting to impose its will on Asia, far beyond its designated area of responsibility, and that a constructive response to these efforts is necessary.

NATO’s Expanding Role in Asia

Lavrov said NATO is seeking to portray the entire Eurasian region as falling within its area of responsibility, while justifying its position by emphasizing the alliance’s defensive nature. 

Although NATO claims to protect the territories of its member states, the alliance now argues that threats to those territories are emerging from the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, Lavrov noted.

Situation in Central Asia

Russia considers the current situation in Central Asia to be stable and favorable for the development of international cooperation, although certain risks remain, Lavrov said. “We assess the emerging situation in Central Asia as stable and favorable for international cooperation, taking into account all known risks. We appreciate the enormous contribution made by the region’s leaders in creating all the necessary conditions for this,” he stated.

However, Lavrov emphasized the importance of remaining alert to risks that have not yet been identified. 

According to the Russian foreign minister, such risks arise primarily from the activities of certain external players pursuing their geopolitical objectives without taking into account the specific characteristics and interests of the peoples of Central Asia, whom he described as friendly to Russia.

Afghanistan and Regional Security

It will take a considerable amount of time to overcome the consequences of the actions undertaken by the United States and NATO in Afghanistan, Lavrov said. He warned that extremist groups are seeking to use Afghanistan as a base from which to extend threats to Central Asia and Russia. Lavrov also accused the Islamic State (ISIS), a terrorist organization banned in Russia, of attempting to undermine the efforts of the authorities in Kabul to stabilize the situation in Afghanistan. Russia will continue providing Afghanistan with all possible humanitarian assistance, the foreign minister said. “Russia will continue providing the Afghan people with all possible economic and humanitarian assistance,” Lavrov stated. He added that Russia welcomes similar efforts by Afghanistan’s neighboring countries.

Russia Supports Tajikistan’s Border Security 

Lavrov said Russia is taking the necessary measures to ensure the timely supply of weapons and other equipment to Tajikistan to help secure its border with Afghanistan. “Within the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), we pay special attention to implementing the targeted interstate programme to strengthen the Tajik-Afghan border.

“We are taking the necessary measures to ensure the timely delivery of weapons, military equipment and technical means for border protection to our Tajikistani allies,” he said.

Fourth International Conference on Eurasian Security in November

The fourth International Conference on Eurasian Security will be held in Minsk, Belarus, on November 3–4, Lavrov announced. The conference is expected to provide an important international platform for discussions on security challenges across Eurasia and opportunities to strengthen regional cooperation.