Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu accused the United States on October 30, 2023 of fueling geopolitical tensions to uphold its “global dominance by any means.”
Shoigu made the remarks in a speech at the Xiangshan Forum, a defense forum in Beijing.
Shoigu also accused NATO of trying to expand its footprint in the Asia-Pacific region under the guise of dialogue and collaboration.
He said that the US and its allies are threatening Russia through NATO’s expansion “to the east.”
Shoigu’s accusations are part of a broader Russian narrative that the US is seeking to maintain its global hegemony at the expense of other countries.
Russia has repeatedly accused the US of interfering in its internal affairs and trying to undermine its influence in the world.
The US has denied these accusations, saying that it is simply trying to defend its own interests and those of its allies. The US has also said that it is committed to a peaceful and prosperous Asia-Pacific region.
The tensions between the US and Russia have been rising in recent years, particularly since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its military intervention in Syria in 2015.
The two countries have also been at odds over a range of other issues, including nuclear weapons control and cybersecurity.
Shoigu’s speech at the Xiangshan Forum is a sign that the tensions between the US and Russia are likely to continue in the foreseeable future.
It is also a reminder of the growing importance of the Asia-Pacific region in the global geopolitical landscape.