Putin, Shoigu, Li urge cooperation to ensure global security at MCIS
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The Russian President and Minister of Defense, as well as the Chinese Minister of Defense Li Shangfu, speak at the opening of the Moscow Conference on International Security.
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Russia's President Vladimir Putin addresses the participants and guests of the 11th Moscow Conference on International Security via a video link in Moscow, Russia, on August 15, 2023. (Sputnik)
Russia's President Vladimir Putin spoke during the launching of the 11th Moscow Conference on International Security (MCIS) on Tuesday, as he called for increased cooperation between the participating states to ensure global security.
"Today, it is clear that it is possible to reduce confrontation at the global and regional levels, neutralize challenges and risks, strengthen trust between states, and open up broad opportunities for their development only by uniting the efforts of the international community," Putin said at MIOS, which is taking place at Patriot Congress and Exhibition Center, in Moscow, Russia.
The President revealed that Western states plan on integrating NATO forces with AUKUS, a trilateral security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
"We do not rule out that the matter is heading towards full integration of NATO forces with the AUKUS bloc structures that are being created."
Putin stressed that the US' so-called Indo-Pacific strategy is in fact "aimed at creating military-political associations controlled by Washington," which seeks to "reformat the system of interstate cooperation" in the Asia-Pacific region to secure its interest.
The head of the Russian state stressed Moscow's support for a multipolar world order, "based on the priority of norms and principles of international law, the sovereignty and equality of states, constructive cooperation and trust."
Earlier the Russian President urged Moscow and Pyongyang to deepen ties, as he congratulated the head of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on the country's National Liberation Day.
"I am sure that we will continue to build up bilateral cooperation in all areas for the benefit of our peoples, in the interests of strengthening stability and security on the Korean Peninsula and in the Northeast Asian region as a whole," Putin said in the letter sent to Kim Jong Un.
The President pointed to August 15, as the day when the groundwork was laid for close cooperation between the two countries.
Sergei Shoigu speaks at MCIS
The Russian Minister of Defense also spoke at the opening of MCIS, highlighting the critical condition which the Ukrainian army's arsenal is suffering from.
"Preliminary results of hostilities show that Ukraine's military resources are almost exhausted," Shoigu stated.
Furthermore, the Minister highlighted strategies employed by Western armies that exploit Ukrainian lives, as foreign advisors use Ukrainian soldiers to test the potency of various tactical options for conducting military operations, using Western-made and supplied weapons.
He also criticized the United Nations for ignoring Ukrainian violations of international humanitarian norms, saying, "We record and daily transmit information about incidents to the structures of the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Unfortunately, there is no reaction. Often, international officials claim that they allegedly do not have any information about Ukraine's non-compliance with humanitarian law."
Shoigu expressed his concern regarding the Ukrainian shelling of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant (ZNPP) with heavy weapons which could lead to a nuclear catastrophe in the region.
"An alarming situation is developing around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Kiev exposes it to regular shelling from heavy weapons. The actions of the armed forces of Ukraine can provoke a nuclear catastrophe," the Minister warned.
MoD to share Western military weaknesses with allies
During his address to attendees of MCIS, Shoigu announced that Russia is ready to share its reports on the weaknesses of Western military hardware with its partners.
"We have objective monitoring data on the destruction of German tanks, US armored vehicles, UK missiles, and other weapon systems. We are ready to share our assessments of the weaknesses of Western equipment with our partners."
He stressed that Russian weapons are capable of destroying every Western weapon currently present on the battlefield, adding that "in many cases, Soviet-made equipment is superior in its combat characteristics to Western models," Shoigu said, as he later pointed to some of the seized weapons which where put on display at the exhibition center.
On the Black Sea Grain Initiative, the Minister said Ukraine used the agreements to protect its weapons and ammunition depots.
"The Kiev regime has shown particular cynicism in the implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. By using it as a cover from Russian missile strikes, Kiev has amassed weapons and ammunition in Odesa and other Black Sea ports, which were routinely delivered to the front line," Shoigu explained, pointing to Ukraine's ramped-up production of aerial and naval attack drones which are being used to attack civilian infrastructure in Crimea.
The top defense official said Russia's disuse of cluster munition in its targeting of Ukrainian military positions is up for reconsideration, adding that the US is committing a war crime by delivering the controversial munition to Kiev.
Russia-China relations surpass strategic partnership
Amid evolving global dynamics, the relationship between Russia and China has taken a significant leap forward, surpassing the boundaries of a strategic partnership, Shoigu announced.
This transformation comes in response to the recent actions of the United States, which has labeled Moscow and Beijing as its strategic adversaries, according to the Minister who underscored tangible measures taken by the Pentagon, which show a clear intention to gain a competitive edge in potential military confrontations against Russia and China.
Furthermore, Shoigu drew from the experiences of Russian-American cooperation, saying meaningful military contacts are most effective when driven by genuine political willingness to collaborate, hinting that there is no current political will to do so in US decision-making circles.
On a related note, Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu expressed China's readiness to strengthen security measures within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) at the Russian-organized conference.
Li also highlighted China's commitment to bolstering defense cooperation with Iran and Belarus. This comes in the wake of Tehran's full-fledged membership in the SCO and Minsk's signing of a memorandum of understanding to become a member state of the organization.
The Minister reaffirmed China's dedication to elevating international cooperation in the field of arms control. He stated that China is prepared to engage in joint exercises and drills with all nations, with the aim of expanding the scope of these activities and enhancing global collaboration on arms control and non-proliferation efforts.
