Russian Foreign Minister: Europe May Form a New Military Alliance Involving Ukraine

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov stated on the 20th at the meeting of the Council of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) that NATO is "in crisis," and Europe is discussing the formation of a new military group, which may include the European Union, the United Kingdom, Norway, and Ukraine.

Lavrov pointed out that Russia views the CSTO as a pillar of the future Eurasian security architecture. The West is increasingly using force and adopting neo-colonial methods, while the CSTO will not deviate from the principles of international law.

He recalled that the CSTO had actively advocated for dialogue with NATO and promoted mechanisms for building trust and increasing transparency within the framework of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), but NATO's attitude towards the CSTO has "always been extremely arrogant."

Lavrov also stated that the expanding military actions in the Middle East could affect the CSTO region. He believes that those supporting the chaos in the Middle East aim to create divisions in the Islamic world and noted that, from a geographical perspective, the possibility of establishing a Palestinian state is becoming increasingly unlikely.

The Collective Security Treaty Organization has six member states, including Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Armenia. However, Armenia has suspended its participation. The organization was established in May 2002, evolving from the Collective Security Treaty signed in 1992 among the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). (Reporter: Hao Wei)