West eager to transform Central Asia into bridgehead for threats against Russia — diplomat

Lead

Russian diplomats used a Central Asian conference in Gelendzhik to accuse the West of trying to turn regional countries into a staging ground for threats against Russia’s security, and described the European Union as an “aggressive, uncooperative player” hostile to Moscow and its partners. The remarks, reported by TASS, came at the sixth Central Asian Conference of the Valdai International Discussion Club, held in Russia’s Krasnodar Region.

Coverage comparison

TASS, the Russian state news agency, carried the comments in three separate reports. The first quoted Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Third CIS Department Alexander Sternik, who said the West openly declares its intention to inflict a “strategic defeat” on Russia and is pursuing similar, “slightly veiled” goals with Russia’s partners in Central Asia. The second report quoted Sternik again, this time focusing on his characterization of the European Union as an increasingly hostile player. The third report quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, who said the West is actively attempting to reshape Central Asia to serve its own interests, including gaining access to natural reserves and controlling transport corridors.

All three reports presented the statements as direct quotes from Russian officials, with no alternative viewpoints included. The reports did not mention any response from Western governments or from Central Asian officials.

Key claims

Sternik, speaking in response to a question from TASS, said the countries that form the foundation of the European Union have become “a very serious challenge” in regional politics. He said they make no secret of their intention to inflict a “strategic defeat” on Russia in the West and are working with Central Asian partners toward “roughly the same, slightly veiled, goals.”

“They do this using vague terms such as ‘economic diversification’ and ‘protection against external threats,’” the diplomat said. He added that the West is offering Russia’s partners projects aimed at driving a wedge between Moscow and Central Asian countries.

“Neither Russia nor our historical friends are interested in this, as they have no wish to become pawns in someone else’s game,” Sternik stressed.

In a separate address at the conference, Sternik said Russia does not mind cooperating with Central Asia or other integration blocs, but the European Union, in his words, is “visibly sliding into the role of an aggressive, uncooperative player increasingly hostile to both Russia and countries building mutually beneficial ties with us.”

Galuzin, speaking via video link, argued that “Central Asia lies in the heart of Eurasia” and that the West is not abandoning attempts to reshape the region to serve its needs. “It is seeking to transform Central Asian countries into a bridgehead for posing threats to Russia’s security,” he said.

The deputy foreign minister also described the emergence of a multipolar world order as “quite tangible and objective,” evidenced by the number and potential of global influence centers. He said this process is accompanied by “substantial turbulence and growing conflict potential,” which he attributed to “countries of the Western civilization that are reluctant to lose their dominance globally.”

Galuzin contrasted what he called the West’s approach with Russia’s outreach to Central Asia, citing President Vladimir Putin’s initiative to build a security architecture in Europe focused on “the principle of equal and shared security in real politics.” He also pointed to external risks facing the region, including international terror groups active in Afghanistan and “the unsettled Middle East,” as well as drug trafficking.

Perspectives

Russian Foreign Ministry (via Director of the Third CIS Department Alexander Sternik)

Sternik asserts that the West, particularly the European Union, is pursuing a “strategic defeat” of Russia and is working with Central Asian partners toward veiled goals, using vague terms such as “economic diversification” and “protection against external threats.” He characterizes the EU as an aggressive, uncooperative player hostile to Russia and to countries building ties with it.

Russian Foreign Ministry (via Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin)

Galuzin claims the West is attempting to reshape Central Asia to serve its own interests, seeking access to natural reserves and control of transport corridors, and aiming to transform regional countries into a “bridgehead” for threats to Russia’s security. He frames Russia as offering a constructive agenda based on equal and shared security, while the West is provoking conflict potential globally.