Lavrov says NATO military infrastructure in Afghanistan is unacceptable
In short
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the placement of NATO military infrastructure in Afghanistan and neighbouring states is categorically unacceptable under any pretext. He spoke at the opening of the Moscow-format consultations on Afghanistan, attended by special representatives and senior officials. Lavrov said such a presence has historically led to destabilisation and more conflict.
Read the full story 2 min read
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the placement of NATO military infrastructure in Afghanistan and in neighbouring states is categorically unacceptable under any pretext. “I would like to stress once again the categorical unacceptability of the placement of NATO military infrastructure on the territory of Afghanistan and the states neighbouring it under any pretext whatsoever,” Lavrov said, according to Interfax. RIA Novosti, TASS, Vedomosti and Kommersant reported the same position. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Lavrov made the statement at the opening of the Moscow-format consultations on Afghanistan at the level of special representatives and senior officials, according to Interfax, Vedomosti and Kommersant. The documents do not report any outcome from the meeting. [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Lavrov said historical experience shows such a presence carries a risk of destabilisation and rising conflict. “As historical experience shows, such a presence is fraught with destabilisation and growing conflict. We have not observed any other results from such a presence over recent decades,” he said, according to Interfax and Kommersant. [ 3 , 5 ]
Vedomosti recalled that on 27 May, Russian Security Council secretary Sergei Shoigu also said the placement of NATO military infrastructure in Afghanistan was inadmissible, saying drug trafficking and arms smuggling threats in the country were consequences of the alliance's actions and citing “events around Iran”. The same outlet noted that in late March the Indian newspaper Hindustan Times, citing a senior Russian diplomat, reported that Moscow was concerned the United States could take control of a key Afghan base amid escalation of a military conflict between Tehran and Washington. [ 4 ]
Kommersant noted that NATO forces were deployed in Afghanistan after the 11 September 2001 attacks in the United States, that Washington and other alliance members began withdrawing troops in early 2021, and that the operation was officially completed by August. It added that, for Moscow, Afghanistan's security should be built without Russian military bases on its territory and without turning neighbouring countries into strongholds for US and NATO forces, while Russia says it intends to develop mutually beneficial cooperation with Afghanistan. The outlet also recalled that in October 2021 Lavrov urged Afghanistan's neighbours not to allow US and NATO forces on their territory after their departure, and spoke of a possible redeployment of alliance forces to Central, South and South-East Asia. [ 5 ]
Why it matters
The statement restates Russia's long-standing objection to any US or NATO military footprint near its southern border, at a multilateral meeting Moscow is hosting. One business outlet links the timing to concern in Moscow about a possible US move on an Afghan base amid US-Iranian escalation, though the documents do not confirm any such plan. The remarks signal that Afghanistan remains a subject of Russian diplomatic activity rather than a settled file.
Key facts
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the placement of NATO military infrastructure in Afghanistan and in neighbouring states is categorically unacceptable under any pretext. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Lavrov made the statement at the opening of the Moscow-format consultations on Afghanistan at the level of special representatives and senior officials. [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Lavrov said that, based on historical experience, such a presence carries a risk of destabilisation and rising conflict. [ 3 , 5 ]
- Vedomosti reported that Russian Security Council secretary Sergei Shoigu made a similar statement on 27 May, linking drug trafficking and arms smuggling threats to NATO actions. [ 4 ]
- Kommersant noted that NATO forces were deployed in Afghanistan after the 11 September 2001 attacks and that their withdrawal was officially completed by August 2021. [ 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the placement of NATO military infrastructure in Afghanistan and neighbouring states is categorically unacceptable under any pretext. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Lavrov spoke at the Moscow-format consultations on Afghanistan at the level of special representatives and senior officials. [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Lavrov said such a presence leads to destabilisation and rising conflict. [ 3 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- Whether any concrete plan to place NATO infrastructure in Afghanistan prompted the statement. The documents report the statement and general Russian concerns but do not identify a specific new proposal or decision.
- Vedomosti's report that Moscow is concerned the United States could take control of a key Afghan base, attributed to an Indian newspaper citing a senior Russian diplomat. Single-source, second-hand account; no other document in this set mentions it, and no base or date is named.
- The reference to “events around Iran” cited by Shoigu in May. Mentioned only in one document and not elaborated.
- Any outcome or documents from the Moscow-format consultations. The documents cover only Lavrov's opening remarks; no results are reported.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- RIA Novosti publishes Lavrov's remark that NATO infrastructure in Afghanistan is unacceptable. [ 1 ]
- TASS publishes Lavrov's statement that such placement is categorically unacceptable. [ 2 ]
- Interfax publishes the full quote and identifies the venue as the Moscow-format consultations on Afghanistan. [ 3 ]
- Vedomosti publishes the statement and recalls Shoigu's similar remark on 27 May. [ 4 ]
- Kommersant publishes the statement with background on NATO's 2001 deployment and 2021 withdrawal. [ 5 ]