NATO’s New Focus on Asia-Pacific Raises Security Threat Concerns for Russia and Other Countries in the Region, Warns Putin.
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently expressed his concerns over NATO’s increasing interest in the Asia-Pacific region. During a press conference in Hanoi with Vietnamese counterpart To Lam, Putin emphasized that this shift in focus poses a threat to all countries in the region, including Russia.
The Russian leader reiterated that Moscow is obliged to respond to this move by NATO and will do so accordingly. His concerns come after signing a strategic partnership treaty with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang the day before. In Vietnam, Putin announced that both Russia and Hanoi share an interest in building a reliable regional security architecture based on non-use of force principles and peaceful dispute settlements, with no place for selective military-political blocs.
Putin also noted that global developments necessitate strengthening cooperation with partners, especially in areas deemed crucial by Russia, such as those concerning Asia. The Russian leader emphasized the importance of ensuring arms supplies to allies, even if it means sending long-range weapons to countries like the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK.
Last month, Putin expressed his disapproval of NATO and other Western-dominated organizations infiltrating the Asia-Pacific region. He argued that such moves are unwise and counterproductive. In 2021, the US, UK, and Australia established the AUKUS security partnership, with the main goal of helping Canberra acquire nuclear-powered submarines.
China has criticized the AUKUS pact, referring to it as an attempt to establish an “Asia-Pacific version of NATO.” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin argued last year that this alliance is based on a Cold War mentality and could lead to increased arms races, damage international nuclear nonproliferation regimes, and destabilize the region.
In recent years, Beijing has denounced NATO as a “walking war machine” causing chaos wherever it goes. The Chinese Foreign Ministry accuses the US-led bloc of meddling in Asian affairs and branding it a “terrible monster” that extends its influence over the region.