Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has strongly criticized Western efforts—particularly from the European Union—to establish dominance in Central Asia. Speaking at a press conference following his visit to Uzbekistan, Lavrov emphasized that Russia is firmly against politicizing cooperation in the region.
Addressing the various multilateral formats such as Russia–Central Asia and EU–Central Asia, Lavrov stressed that such engagements should be mutually beneficial and based on agreements that suit all parties involved. “We categorically oppose the politicization of cooperative processes and any ideological agendas aimed at domination by one group of countries in this or other geopolitical spaces,” he stated.
Lavrov accused Western powers, especially EU member states, of advancing their agenda with an openly anti-Russian slant. He noted that the EU often seeks to push its own interests under the guise of cooperation—sometimes funding programs that aim to penetrate Central Asian state structures, including sensitive areas like border security, customs, and national statistics.
“We are not against our strategic partners pursuing a multi-vector foreign policy,” Lavrov clarified. “But when cooperation is used as a tool for political intrusion, it's clear why this raises concerns—not just for us, but for the Central Asian countries themselves.”
He concluded by reaffirming that Russia respects the sovereignty of other states and avoids interfering in their domestic affairs: “That’s something we never do—and never will.”
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Based on TASS materials