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- Turning to the East: Russia sees European countries in the new Eurasian security system
Turning to the East: Russia sees European countries in the new Eurasian security system
European countries should become part of the new Eurasian security system, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko told Izvestia. The diplomat stressed that the East is becoming a driver of economic growth and political influence, and Russia is now actively involved in the process of forming a new Eurasian security structure. Vladimir Putin came up with a similar initiative last year. Experts believe that the Balkan states, as well as some Eastern European countries such as Hungary and Slovakia, may join it in the future.
What is known about the new Eurasian security system
Russia is working on the contours of a future collective security system in Eurasia. Not only Asian countries, but also Europe will be able to join it, the Russian Foreign Ministry believes.
— The Russian Federation, together with like-minded countries, is actively involved in the process of forming a new Eurasian security structure. At the same time, we proceed from the fact that, since it is Eurasian, the countries of the current European periphery should participate in it," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko told Izvestia.
He stressed that today the drivers of economic growth and political influence are moving to the East. In fact, NATO and the European Union have ceased to be the only decision-making centers.
—Those countries and leaders who will realize and understand what the main vector of development of international relations is, will probably realize that staying out of this Eurasian process will be counterproductive for their economic, political and other positions," the diplomat added.
The 13th international meeting of high-level representatives in charge of security issues is taking place in Moscow from May 25 to 27. In his welcoming speech, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated the need to create an equal and indivisible security system.
"All states should receive firm guarantees of their own security, but not at the expense of the security and interests of other countries,— he stressed.
According to him, the existing multilateral cooperation formats, in particular the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), could form the basis for creating a new system.
In June 2024, Vladimir Putin proposed to begin a broad discussion of a new system of bilateral and multilateral collective security guarantees in Eurasia. At the same time, he said that it should be open, including to EU and NATO member states. Belarus has initiated the adoption of the Eurasian Charter of Diversity and Multipolarity in the 21st Century at the level of heads of state, a policy document designed to set out a vision for the framework of interstate cooperation.
Russia and Belarus plan to present the draft charter at the third international conference on Eurasian security, which is scheduled to take place in Minsk this fall. The Russian Foreign Ministry emphasizes that the document can become a regulatory superstructure of the Eurasian security architecture. It is possible that representatives of European countries will take part in the next conference, as in the previous one. Last year, former Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Vulin and Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto spoke at the conference.
— Szijjarto delivered a speech at the Minsk Conference that was completely different for a member of the European Union. We will welcome the development of the Minsk process. I know that our Belarusian colleagues also believe that the doors of this conference will be open to all those who are really ready to contribute to the formation of a new Eurasian architecture," Alexander Grushko said.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also noted that in addition to Hungary, Slovakia is showing interest in the concept of a new Eurasian security. Bratislava has noticeably intensified contacts with Moscow at the highest level over the past six months. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico visited Russia twice, in December and May.
The importance of the Eurasian security system
The biggest challenge to the European security system has been the armed conflict in Ukraine. Russia has repeatedly pointed out the need to address its root causes, including the prevention of NATO expansion to the East. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on May 28 that Ukraine's return to a neutral, non—aligned, nuclear-weapon-free status is one of Russia's conditions for resolving the crisis. At the same time, NATO does not officially abandon the "open door" policy, according to which the alliance admits that sooner or later Ukraine may join the bloc.
In addition, NATO and the EU continue to increase military activity near the borders with Russia and build alliances without Moscow's participation. On May 28, the head of European Diplomacy, Kaya Kallas, presented the new EU strategy for the Black Sea region developed by the European Commission. She noted that the European Union seeks to establish control over the safety of navigation in the Black Sea with the cooperation of all coastal states with the exception of Russia.
Currently, the Eurasian security system is mainly represented by the Union State of Russia and Belarus, as well as the CSTO, said Alexey Dzermant, director of the Center for the Study and Development of Continental Integration North Eurasia. Cooperation with structures in which Russia is present could meet the interests of the countries of Eastern Europe and the Balkans.
— The European Union is heterogeneous. For example, Hungary, which is looking for different points of support, besides NATO and the EU, is interested in the Turkic world and China. I think Hungary and Slovakia would be interested in participating in CSTO projects," he told Izvestia. — In addition, there are Balkan countries, such as Serbia, which does not seek to join NATO, as long as it is not an EU member. And here we could offer something.
In addition, joining the Eurasian security system could be of interest to other Central and Eastern European countries, in particular Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, says Vladimir Bruter, an expert at the International Institute for Humanitarian and Political Studies.
— These countries don't really trust Western Europe. They believe that she uses their citizens as cheap labor," he said in an interview with Izvestia.
An example is the results of the Romanian presidential election, where about half of the voters supported the right-wing candidate George Simion. At the same time, participation in the Eurasian security system for Eastern European countries would not mean their withdrawal from NATO and the EU, the analyst is sure.
"It would be better for them to be under the American military umbrella and at the same time maintain positive economic relations with the East," Vladimir Bruter believes.
Poland and the Baltic states would hardly be able to become part of the Eurasian security system, he believes. The reason is that Warsaw sees itself as a regional leader, the expert believes. As for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, they are mainly focused on maintaining the union with the Anglo—Saxon countries - the United States and Great Britain.
The socio-economic basis of the new security system should be the Greater Eurasian Partnership, an initiative proposed by Russia back in 2015. It includes the formation of a broad integration contour in Eurasia. The partnership is based on the promotion of a just and polycentric world order with equitable and mutually beneficial economic cooperation. In practical terms, this implies, in particular, the creation of free trade zones (FTZs). For example, a free trade zone between the EAEU and Serbia has been in effect since 2021.
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