According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, most Global South governments are aware of NATO's potential threats as the organization expands in the Asia-Pacific area.

Lavrov told a joint press conference on Friday after a meeting with Bolivian Foreign Minister Celinda Sosa Lunda in Moscow that "Structures are already being created there [in the Asia-Pacific region] that reproduce the NATO psychology, NATO mentality. There are talks of NATO infrastructure penetrating there."

Lavrov cited the recent announcement of the NATO-Japan cooperation pact, divulging that the "overwhelming majority of countries in the world's majority regions, the Global South, understand the dangers this entails, realize that they will be siphoned off funds in the interests of NATO and will use them."

The minister said it was far preferable to take care of one's "household chores" and offer decent education for one's population rather than "playing this geopolitical game, which NATO sees as a zero-sum game."

Earlier this week, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced discussions between top Russian and Bolivian officials to discuss different elements of Russian-Bolivian cooperation, including Bolivia's potential for joining BRICS. Diplomats are also scheduled to address a wide variety of current topics on the international and regional agenda.

Following discussions in April, US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida expressed they were looking forward to continued cooperation on strengthening NATO's partnership with Tokyo, as well as cooperation between the alliance and the Indo-Pacific Four, which includes Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea.

Zakharova criticizes NATO exercises in Finland as 'provocative'

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova criticized on Wednesday the NATO exercises planned to begin on Friday near the Russian-Finnish border, describing them as provocative.

"The NATO military exercises near the Russian borders are provocative in nature. Their task is to exert military pressure on the Russian Federation through a demonstration of force," she said. 

She went on to say that "representatives of the North Atlantic bloc are purposefully whipping up hysteria around the alleged 'threat' posed by Russia, including actively spreading insinuations about Russia's plans to attack the member states of the organization, to justify their aggressive endeavors." 

Russia Vigilant Against Western Aggression

Additionally, the top Russian official suggested that the military drills in Finland are a component of a hybrid warfare strategy targeting Russia.

"Helsinki is seeking to finalize its official NATO 'residence' as a ‘new recruit’ as soon as possible and become a full participant in this venture," Zakharova said.

She remarked that NATO persists in its active military engagement with a country that was formerly neutral and held a respected role in discussions concerning stability and security enhancement.

The maneuvers near Russia's borders heighten the likelihood of potential military incidents, Zakharova stressed.

Elsewhere in her remarks, she highlighted that Russia is closely observing "the aggressive actions of the collective West." 

"Beyond any doubt, all necessary measures of political, military, and technical nature to counter threats to the defense capability of our country will be taken," Zakharova said.