All Central Asian countries, Russia's neighbors, say they do not want to station armed forces of the United States or any other NATO member state on their territory, Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters on Thursday.
"Our Central Asian neighbors, allies, strategic partners in contacts with us confirm that such entries are unacceptable for them," the minister said in response to a question about US intentions to deploy its anti-terrorist forces on the territory of Uzbekistan. - "I have not heard about this issue, probably it is better to ask our Uzbek colleagues. All of our Central Asian friends tell us that they don't want this kind of approach from the US or other NATO countries".
The Wall Street Journal of the United States quoted its sources as saying that Russia and the United States have been discussing the possibility of American military bases being used in Central Asia.
In turn, Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said at a meeting with US undersecretary of state for political affairs Victoria Nuland in Moscow on October 12 that Moscow does not accept the American military presence in Central Asia.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry
Based on materials from TASS