"Structures are already being created there [in the Asia-Pacific region] that reproduce the NATO psychology, NATO mentality. There are talks of NATO infrastructure penetrating there," Lavron told a joint press conference after a meeting with Bolivian Foreign Minister Celinda Sosa Lunda in Moscow, in response to a question from a Sputnik correspondent.
As an example, Lavrov recalled the recent announcement of the NATO-Japan cooperation agreement.
"It seems to me that the overwhelming majority of countries in the world's majority regions, the Global South, understand the dangers this entails, realize that they will be siphoned off funds in the interests of NATO and will use them," the top Russian diplomat said.
The minister said it was much better to take care of one's "household chores" and provide normal education for one's citizens, instead of "playing this geopolitical game, which NATO sees as a zero-sum game."
Russia Supports Bolivia's Aspirations to Join BRICS
Russia supports Bolivia's aspirations to become a member of BRICS and is interested in having as many countries as possible enter the nine-nation bloc of developing economies, Lavrov underlined.
"Russia supports these aspirations of Bolivia, as this year's BRICS chair, and is interested in ensuring that as many countries as possible that want to get closer to BRICS become either BRICS members or establish stable, permanent partnerships, receive a definite positive response," he told the press conference.
In September 2023, Bolivian President Luis Arce told Sputnik that his country welcomed the accession of new countries to BRICS and hoped to join the bloc as soon as possible.
Top Bolivian Diplomat to Meet With Rosatom, Economy Ministry Officials in Moscow
Bolivian Foreign Minister is expected to hold several meetings with representatives of Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom and the Russian Economy Ministry, Sergey Lavrov mentioned.
"The minister will also meet with representatives of our other agencies, including Rosatom and the economy ministry," he noted.
Lavrov expressed confidence that these meetings would actively advance bilateral cooperation and hoped that the parties would have "every reason" to report on this to the heads of state.