Russia Opposes Western Dominance in Central Asia, Calls for Equal Cooperation - Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticized what he described as the politicization of regional cooperation, Orda.kz reports.

Speaking at a press conference in Uzbekistan on April 23, Lavrov emphasized that Russia finds Western efforts to assert dominance in Central Asia unacceptable.

He made these remarks while summarizing the outcome of his visit and talks with Uzbek officials.

Addressing questions about the "Central Asia – Russia" and "Central Asia – EU" cooperation formats, Lavrov stressed that Moscow supports only equal partnerships in the region. He stated that any initiatives should be "exclusively mutually beneficial" and built on terms acceptable to all involved.

We are categorically against the politicization of cooperation processes, the introduction of ideological elements associated with attempts by one or another group of countries to establish dominance in this and other geopolitical spaces,
 he stated.

Lavrov recently visited Kazakhstan, where he held talks with Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu in Almaty.

Meanwhile, during Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s visit to the region, several media outlets noted that Italy sees Central Asia as a strategically important area amid global tensions and the EU’s efforts to reduce dependency on Russian and Chinese resources.

Original Author: Ruslan Loginov