VIENTIANE, Oct 11, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on
Friday called US actions in Asia "destructive", accusing Washington of being
behind a "militarisation" of Japan and attempting to turn other countries
against Russia and China.

"The destructive character of US actions in this part of the world is
obvious," Lavrov told reporters at an East Asia Summit in Laos.

Asked about Japan's proposal for a NATO-style Asian pact, Lavrov said: "Ideas
about creating military blocs always carry risks of confrontation that could
escalate".

"As far as Japan is concerned, we are seriously concerned about its
militarisation... The Japanese are obviously being pushed to such a course by
the United States," he said.

Lavrov also said the US, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and Australia had
attempted to make the summit's final statement "deeply politicised" and it
therefore "could not be adopted".

He said Western countries wanted to exploit their ties with ASEAN "above all
against the interests of Russia and China".