Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov acknowledged that Russia is prepared to sign a protocol to the treaty on a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Southeast Asia, alongside other permanent members of the UN Security Council.
Speaking to reporters following the Russia-ASEAN meeting, Lavrov addressed the Indonesian foreign ministry's statement regarding ASEAN countries' call for nuclear powers, including Russia, to join the treaty.
Lavrov clarified that the discussions pertained to signing a protocol to the existing treaty rather than Russia becoming a party to the treaty itself. The protocol's objective is to invite nuclear states to sign and provide guarantees to the treaty's parties, ensuring compliance with its requirements. These requirements encompass refraining from possessing, developing, or hosting any elements of nuclear weapons.
Highlighting the significance of upholding these obligations, Lavrov emphasized that if any party were to violate their commitments, the concept of unconditional guarantees would take on a different meaning. He cited Australia as an example, noting Russia's belief that Australia, in violation of its obligations, has agreed to allow the United States and the United Kingdom to deploy nuclear weapon-related infrastructure on its territory.
Lavrov expressed concerns that if any participant in the Southeast Asia nuclear-weapon-free zone were to follow a similar path as Australia, it would compromise the ability to provide guarantees. Moreover, he indicated that there are reasons to believe that the United States may be considering similar arrangements with certain ASEAN member states, further heightening these apprehensions.
By addressing these concerns, Lavrov acknowledged Russia's readiness to sign a protocol to the nuclear-weapon-free zone treaty in Southeast Asia. He stressed the importance of fulfilling the treaty's requirements and underscored the potential challenges associated with providing guarantees in a changing geopolitical landscape.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry
Based on materials from TASS