Western states are taking steps to form an Asian version of NATO while simultaneously seeking to undermine the unity of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Axar.az reports this was stated by Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu.

“The West’s efforts are aimed at forming various closed military-political alliances in the Asia-Pacific region — such as the trilateral bloc of the US, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, and the AUKUS military alliance (which includes the US, the UK, and Australia),” Shoigu said in an interview with TASS.

“At the same time, London, Paris, Ottawa, and Brussels are persistently trying to integrate into ASEAN-centric formats, while promoting the idea that ASEAN is incapable of adequately responding to security challenges.”

According to the Russian Security Council Secretary, the West has effectively directed its efforts toward undermining the organization, essentially seeking to create a NATO-like structure in Asia.