Sergei Lavrov: Creation of AUKUS Security Pact Could Affect Russia-EU Dialogue

The new arrangement between Australia, the UK and the US, dubbed AUKUS, was created earlier this month, raising security concerns in China and the EU.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated on Saturday that the AUKUS security pact may affect ties between Moscow and Brussels.

"Of course, we can feel the consequences of what is happening there. This can affect our relations with the European Union, it can stir the EU’s interest to finally cooperate with us, using the obvious geopolitical and geostrategic advantages of being on one huge continent - especially since the centre of global development is shifting to the Asian region", the top diplomat noted.

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on a National Security Initiative virtually with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, inside the East Room at the White House in Washington, U.S., September 15, 2021

© REUTERS / TOM BRENNER

"Regarding the deal between Australia, the United States, and Britain over submarines: in general, this event, which took place immediately after the flight from Afghanistan, inevitably raises questions from those who are part of these [Western] alliances. France, in addition to offence from a commercial point of view, is probably considering how reliable these alliances are – and how talks about the strategic autonomy of Europe become far more relevant now", he added.

The creation of the trilateral pact was announced by US President Joe Biden on 15 September. This partnership will enable Canberra to build a new fleet of nuclear-powered submarines in Australian shipyards using American and British technologies. The news has already resulted in major trouble between Canberra and Paris, as Australia cancelled its multi-billion-dollar submarine deal with France.