MOSCOW: Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu on Friday called for the expansion of joint military exercises among Russia and its Asian allies in response to what he perceives as a direct threat from the United States’ efforts to broaden its security influence in the region.
Speaking at a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting, which includes members such as Russia, India, China, Iran, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, Shoigu expressed concern over the deployment of US military infrastructure in the region and labeled it as unacceptable, posing a direct risk to stability in the SCO space.
Shoigu emphasized the need for SCO member states to enhance both the scale and geographic reach of their military drills during the meeting held in Astana, Kazakhstan.
This underscores Russia’s determination to bolster military collaboration with Asian partners and resist any diminution of its influence in the region, even amidst the ongoing Ukrainian conflict, which has placed significant strain on Russia’s armed forces.
The Defence Minister’s remarks come at a time when his position faces heightened scrutiny following the recent arrest of one of his deputies in a corruption scandal, potentially weakening his political standing.
In his address, Shoigu criticized the US-led QUAD and AUKUS alliances for seeking to reconfigure the security landscape in the Pacific to their advantage, while also noting increased pressure on China regarding Taiwan.
Regarding Central Asia, Shoigu identified radical terrorist groups in Afghanistan as the primary threat, accusing the United States of seeking to regain influence in the region following its troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
He referenced a recent terrorist attack near Moscow, attributing it to Islamic State militants, and reiterated Russia’s assertion that Ukraine was involved, a claim refuted by Kyiv and dismissed by Washington.
Shoigu also alleged that foreign advisers were aiding Ukraine in preparing acts of sabotage on Russian soil and accused Ukraine of using Western weaponry to target Russian civilian infrastructure, though no evidence was provided to support these allegations.
