Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday he did not rule out the possibility of integrating AUKUS into the NATO military alliance to strengthen Western dominance in the Asia-Pacific.
Addressing the 11th Moscow International Security Conference via video link, Putin said Western countries oppose the creation of a multipolar world by taking advantage of old conflicts and provoking new conflicts to prevent the emergence of new centers of power.
“The goal of those who do this is clear: to continue to benefit from the human tragedy, to play them against each other, to force other countries to submit to the framework of the neocolonial system, to exploit their resources relentlessly,” Putin said.
NATO members continue to develop new attack potential while destroying existing arms control systems, expanding the area of confrontation and moving it into outer space and digital space, and using military and non-military means to suppress others, he continued.
He assesses that the US is trying to change the system of interaction between countries that has developed in the Asia-Pacific region to expand its control over the region.
“Advancing the so-called Indo-Pacific strategy is aimed at creating a military-political association controlled by Washington. We do not rule out that they are ushering in the full integration of NATO forces with the structure of the AUKUS bloc,” Putin said.
On 15 September 2021, the US, UK and Australia announced the creation of the trilateral security pact AUKUS, which would allow Canberra to procure nuclear-powered submarines.
Putin said the conflicts in the world, including Mali and Ukraine, stem from the West’s geopolitical journey, selfishness and neocolonial actions.
Nevertheless, Putin said that the international community can reduce confrontation at the global and regional levels, remove challenges and risks, and strengthen trust.
“We have been and remain strong supporters of a multipolar world order based on prioritizing international legal norms and principles, state sovereignty and equality, cooperation and trust,” he stressed.
Source : Antara News
