Russia warns of NATO 'embryos' forming in Asia

 Sergei Shoigu, who was Vladimir Putin’s defense minister when Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, has said that countries in Asia are forming groups which are aligned with NATO. 

During a visit to Vietnam, Shoigu, who is now secretary of Russia’s Security Council, told reporters of the emergence of “embryos of NATO in the East,” which could threaten Russia and members of ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations).

Newsweek has contacted NATO for comment. 

Why It Matters  

Shoigu was one of the faces of Putin’s full-scale invasion which the Kremlin justified in part as a response to NATO’s encroachment on Russia’s borders. 

His latest comments in his role as Security Council head reiterate Moscow’s rhetoric about an expanding alliance to an Asian audience. They are likely intended as a call for closer security ties between Russia and ASEAN as well as an appeal for members not to side with NATO. 

What To Know

Shoigu arrived in Hanoi on Monday as head of a Russian delegation for talks with Vietnam’s political, law enforcement and military leadership. 

He told reporters on Wednesday that in the Asia-Pacific region, alliances akin to NATO are appearing which pose a threat to Russia, according to state news agency RIA. 

Shoigu said that these were small groups, or “embryos of NATO in the East,” which could threaten Russia and other countries of ASEAN. He added that Moscow would like to retain its relationship with ASEAN in its current form.

Shoigu did not specify any countries, but in November, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Oleg Savelyev told an ASEAN meeting in Kuala Lumpur about Moscow’s concerns at the groups AUKUS, the Indo-Pacific Four, SQUAD and JAPHUS.  

AUKUS is a partnership between Australia, the U.S. and the U.K. The Indo-Pacific Four consists of Australia, South Korea, Japan and New Zealand. SQUAD involves the U.S., Australia, Japan and the Philippines, while JAPHUS consists of Japan, the Philippines and the United States.  

Russian state media also reported that the Russian Defense Ministry had noted NATO’s strengthening position in the Asia-Pacific region, suggesting that the alliance was trying to extend its influence there. 

In reporting Shoigu’s comments, the Russian ultra-nationalist news channel Tsargrad cited Russian military and political analyst Yevgeny Mikhailov as saying that NATO is increasing its reach in Asia with U.S. participation to counter China’s economic and political expansion. 

Mikhailov said that should be the impetus for Russia to counter this by developing its naval bases in the region and exert its economic might in the far east. 

What People Are Saying

Sergei Shoigu, secretary of Russia’s Security Council, said Wednesday there was “an emergence of small forms which I can call maybe a little rudely, the ’embryos’ of NATO in the East.”

Russian Deputy Defense Minister Oleg Savelyev on November 1: “We believe that there will be likely transformation of these bloc structures in the near future into an Indo-Pacific Alliance, a direct version of NATO.” 

What Happens Next

Shoigu’s comments reiterate the Kremlin’s rhetoric about the threat NATO poses to Russia and reinforces Moscow’s claims that the Western alliance is looking to establish itself in the Pacific region to contain China and isolate Russia—a concern expressed by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, according to state media.