No Country Immune From NATO Attack, Putin Warns
With the world rapidly changing, things will no longer be as they were before. Today, the global political landscape, the economy, and technological competition are all evolving at breakneck speed. President Vladimir Putin stated at a meeting with top officials of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Sputnik"The world is changing rapidly. Nothing will be like it was before, not global politics, not the economy, nor technological competition," the president clarified.
"This endeavor, in today's challenging and rapidly changing realities, demands even greater concentration of effort and initiative towards resilience: not only the ability to respond to current challenges but also to shape our own, long-term agenda. Alongside our partners, we should propose and discuss, within an open and constructive dialogue, solutions to those fundamental questions that concern not only us but the entire global community," he stressed.
Multipolar World Order
Russian President Vladimir Putin has emphasized that the cornerstone of this emerging reality is the establishment of a multipolar world order.
"Today, the outlines of a multipolar and multilateral world order are being formed based on the new political and economic reality. This process highlights the inherent human diversity of culture and civilization, despite ongoing efforts at artificial homogenization," he said.
More and more countries are striving to strengthen their sovereignty, self-sufficiency, and national and cultural identity. "Countries of the Global South and East are coming to the forefront, and the role of Africa and Latin America is growing. Since Soviet times, we've always emphasized the importance of these world regions, but today the dynamics are entirely different," the president stated.
Growing Interest in BRICS
Russia is witnessing a mounting interest in the BRICS organization, Putin noted.
"This vision of the future resonates with the aspirations of the vast majority of countries around the world. We see this reflected in the growing interest in BRICS, a universal association based on a special culture of trustworthy dialogue, sovereign equality of participants, and mutual respect. During Russia's chairmanship this year, we will facilitate the smooth inclusion of new members into BRICS' working structures," Putin said.
He believes that the potential of BRICS will allow it to become one of the fundamental regulatory institutions in the multipolar world order.
Putin stated that Western powers, led by the United States, believed they had emerged victorious from the Cold War and could dictate the global order, while dismissing Russia's legitimate concerns with evasive answers.
"The Western powers, led by the US, believe that they had won the Cold War and were entitled to unilaterally determine how to organize the world. This sentiment manifested in the relentless expansion of the North Atlantic bloc, both geographically and gradually. To our legitimate questions, they responded with excuses, claiming that no one intended to attack Russia and that NATO's expansion was not directed against Russia," the head of state maintained.
NATO Cranking Up Pressure on Other Countries
The US-led Transatlantic bloc is seeking to ramp up pressure on nation-states it seeks to constrain, such as Russia.
"Two years ago, at the NATO summit in Madrid, it was announced that the Alliance would now address security issues not only in the Euro-Atlantic region but also in the Asia-Pacific. They claim that their involvement is indispensable there too. Clearly, this move is an attempt to ramp up pressure on the countries in the region whose development they intend to curb. Notably, our country, Russia, is high on that list," said Putin.
The president emphasized that NATO's diplomacy often includes accusing a country and then unleashing its full force against it.
“The main principle of NATO-style diplomacy was displayed in all its glory. [but it proved] to be deeply flawed and inadequate in resolving complex internal conflicts. Specifically, the approach involved singling out one of the parties, which for some reason they do not particularly like, accuse them of all sins, and unleashing all political, informational, and military power, economic sanctions, and restrictions against them," he said.
"These same approaches were later applied in various regions of the world, including Iraq, Syria, Libya, Afghanistan, and elsewhere. Unfortunately, in each case, they only served to worsen existing problems, shatter the lives of millions, dismantle states, create humanitarian and social disasters, and terrorist enclaves. In fact, no country in the world is safe from being added to this dismal list," Putin indicated.
Stealing Russian assets is yet another example of the Western eagerness to violate global rules. Vladimir Putin has stressed that this action will not go unpunished.
“Western countries have now frozen Russian assets and reserves. ..But despite all the chicanery, the theft will remain the theft and will not go unpunished,” Putin said.
The Russian leader added that anyone could be the next in line for the West to seize their state assets.
Global Security System
Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed Russia's aim to further the dialogue within the UN regarding the establishment of an indivisible security system.
Putin highlighted that ongoing international discussions are focusing on the dynamics of state interactions in a multipolar world and the democratization of the overall international relations system.
"One example for instance is our agreement with colleagues in the Commonwealth of Independent States on a joint document regarding international relations in a multipolar world. We have also extended invitations to partners to engage in discussions on this topic at various international forums, primarily in the SCO and BRICS. Our intention is for this dialogue to progress notably within the UN, especially focusing on the fundamental and vital topic for all as the creation of an indivisible security system," said the Russian President.
The head of state noted that the Euro-Atlantic security system has collapsed, and a new one will need to be created.
“The global community had a unique opportunity to build a reliable and just security order. This required merely the simple ability to listen to the opinions of all interested parties and mutual willingness to take them into consideration... We have consistently pointed out the fallacy of the West’s course... We are witnessing the Euro-Atlantic security's collapse. In fact, it needs to be built anew, to outline a new security framework in Eurasia," said the head of state.
He noted that it is time to discuss collective security guarantees in Eurasia and to scale back the presence of extra-regional military forces. "We believe that the time has come to begin broad discussions on a new system of bilateral and multilateral collective security guarantees in Eurasia. In the long term, efforts should be directed toward gradually reducing the military presence of external powers in the Eurasian region," he stated.
The future security architecture is open to all countries, including European and NATO nations.
"For all means that European NATO countries are certainly included as well. We live on one continent, and no matter what happens, geography cannot be changed. We will have to coexist and work together in one way or another," Putin noted.
Ukrainian Crisis Reverberates Globally
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that the repercussions of the Ukrainian crisis are being felt worldwide. "The tragic example for all of us is the Ukrainian crisis, the consequences of which resonate across the globe," he said.
He highlighted the futility of the military buildup in Europe intended to support Ukraine, arguing that the arms produced for the Zelensky regime will be redundant in the post-conflict era and won't enhance European security. "Now they are forced to increase arms supplies to Ukraine and expand their artillery shell production capacities. Who will need these shells once the Ukrainian conflict is over? How can this ensure Europe's military security? It’s unclear," Putin remarked.
Furthermore, Putin pointed out that the United States is investing in advanced military technologies for the future, such as space systems, modern drones, and new physical principle-based strike systems. "These areas will define the nature of armed struggle and the military-political potential of states and their positions in the world. Meanwhile, [Europe] is being told: 'Invest money where we want.' But this does not enhance Europe's potential. Let them be," Putin added.
What's the Foreign Ministry's Tasks?
All the tasks assigned to Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs aim to create conditions for the country's sustainable development and to enhance its security, President Putin stated.
"I consider it important to set out the relevant tasks for our foreign policy department. All of them serve the main goal: creating conditions for the country's sustainable development, ensuring its security, and improving the well-being of Russian families," Putin said during a meeting with the nation's diplomatic corps.
The president emphasized that working in this direction in today's challenging and rapidly changing environment requires even greater concentration of effort, initiative, and perseverance, as well as the ability to respond not only to current challenges but also to shape a long-term agenda.