16 May, Moscow: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made serious allegations against Western nations, accusing them of deliberately instigating conflicts and creating instability in the Asian region. Speaking at a meeting of the Diplomatic Club under the theme “Culture without Borders: The Role and Development of Cultural Diplomacy,” Lavrov argued that the United States and its allies are strategically trying to pit regional powers—specifically India and Pakistan, and India and China—against each other to advance their geopolitical interests.
Lavrov emphasized that the Western shift from Asia-Pacific to Indo-Pacific is not merely semantic but part of a broader strategy aimed at countering China and sowing discord among regional allies.
“The West has started calling the Asia-Pacific region ‘Indo-Pacific’ to promote an anti-China policy. This is also a ploy to create tension between our long-standing friends India and China,” Lavrov said, as quoted by the Russian state media agency TASS.
Criticism of the Quad and AUKUS Alliances
Lavrov did not hold back his criticism of Western-led military alliances in the region, targeting particularly the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), a grouping of the US, India, Japan, and Australia, and the more recent AUKUS alliance comprising Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
He argued that these alliances, rather than fostering regional cooperation, are tools of confrontation meant to undermine peace and stability in Asia. According to Lavrov, such formations are designed to challenge China’s growing influence and, indirectly, Russia’s strategic interests in the region.
“The purpose of these alliances is not to build cooperation but to incite polarization. AUKUS and Quad aim to replace the existing security architecture with one that reflects Western priorities,” Lavrov noted.
While he acknowledged a shift in the tone of Western discourse since AUKUS, Lavrov warned that the essence of these alliances remains confrontational.
Warning on ASEAN’s Role Being Undermined
Lavrov also raised alarms about the gradual weakening of ASEAN’s central role in maintaining Asian stability. ASEAN—the Association of Southeast Asian Nations—comprises 10 member countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. The organization has long operated on the principles of consensus, regional cooperation, and non-interference.
According to Lavrov, the West is actively encouraging ASEAN nations to engage in alternative forums that may erode the unity and neutrality of the bloc.
“The rules of consensus, the search for common ground—all these are gradually being bypassed by our Western partners. Some ASEAN countries are being tempted to join openly confrontational forums instead of integrative ones,” Lavrov remarked.
He warned that such moves could destabilize decades of carefully maintained diplomatic balance in Southeast Asia.
Call for a Unified Eurasian Platform
Lavrov proposed the creation of a continental platform for Eurasia, a region he described as uniquely diverse and civilizationally rich but lacking an integrated political or diplomatic structure. Drawing comparisons to other continents, he noted that Africa has the African Union and Latin America has CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States), but Eurasia lacks any such overarching body.
“It is surprising that in a region where so many civilizations coexist, Eurasia still does not have a continent-wide platform. We need a dedicated mechanism to harmonize the interests of large regional powers,” he urged.
Lavrov’s remarks are being noticed as a pushback against what Russia perceives as a US-led order trying to re-engineer the strategic framework of Asia to suit Western preferences. Analysts suggest that the speech signals Moscow’s intent to play a more assertive role in shaping the geopolitical architecture of Eurasia, possibly in coordination with China and other non-Western powers.
The speech comes amid rising global tensions, continued conflict in Eastern Europe, and a realignment of global power centers. Lavrov’s emphasis on cultural diplomacy and unity within Eurasia may signal a strategic pivot towards building a multipolar world order, an idea he has consistently endorsed in recent years.
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