Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, asserted that the fervent pursuit of the United States and NATO to enhance security cooperation does not align with the interests of Central Asian countries. Zakharova made these remarks during a briefing, commenting on reports that NATO specialists are conducting training sessions for cadets of the Junior Specialist Training Center of the Uzbek Defense Ministry.
"We can confidently state that the United States and NATO allies' relentless drive to foster collaboration, particularly in defense and security matters, does not serve the interests of sovereign states with friendly ties to Russia," Zakharova stated.
She added, "The bloc's purported assistance program aims to expand its geopolitical influence rather than genuinely bolstering the defense capabilities of its partners."
Uzbekistan signed the Partnership for Peace framework document on July 13, 1994, initiating practical cooperation with NATO in various areas, including military training, counterterrorism efforts, prevention of weapons proliferation, and addressing other international threats.
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Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry
Based on materials from TASS