Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that the deployment of military infrastructure in Afghanistan and its neighboring states by any non-regional countries is unacceptable under any pretext.
Lavrov made the remarks during the 7th meeting of the Moscow Format of Consultations on Afghanistan.
According to Lavrov, the military presence of non-regional forces in Afghanistan will only lead to a turbulent situation and new conflicts.
Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi also expressed their firm stance that the Afghan government will not permit the establishment of any foreign military bases on its territory, including the Bagram Airbase.
Located about 50 kilometers north of Kabul, Bagram Airbase served as the main base for U.S. and NATO forces in the country after the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.
Recently, U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. is seeking to retake the base, warning that if the Afghan side refuses to hand it over, they will face serious consequences.
Military infrastructure deployment by non-regional countries in Afghanistan, neighbors unacceptable: Russian FM
Russia is taking all necessary measures to ensure its national security amid the growing presence and military activities of NATO member states in the Arctic region, a Russian diplomat said on Saturday.
RIA Novosti quoted Russian Ambassador to Norway Nikolai Korchunov as saying that recent military preparations by Norway, Britain and other NATO countries on the alliance's northern flank pose direct security risks to Russia, destabilize the Arctic region and increase the likelihood of dangerous incidents.
It is clear that the intensified militarization of Norway's northern regions and the internationalization of military activity in the Arctic will not strengthen security but instead fuel military-political tensions and escalation, Korchunov said.
He stressed that these negative trends cause justified concern and compel Russia to take all necessary steps to safeguard its security.
Britain and Norway signed a new defense cooperation agreement on Thursday. The agreement includes joint maritime patrols in waters between Greenland, Iceland, Britain and Norway to monitor movements of Russian Navy submarines. It also provides for increasing the number and duration of British Royal Marines deployments on Norwegian territory, and envisages the possible creation of supporting military infrastructure in the country's northern regions.
NATO's Arctic activities pose security threat to Russia: ambassador
