Quad, Aukus aim to contain China, says Russian defence minister

Russian Defence Minister Sergei K Shoigu said defence cooperation like Quad and Aukus attempted to contain China.

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Russian defence minister
Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu (AP/File)

Taking aim at the United States and multilateral groups like the Quad and Aukus, Russian Defence Minister Sergei K Shoigu said they attempted to contain China. It may be noted that Quad, a strategic defence cooperation group, includes India and Russia's fresh salvo at the US may pave the way for speculation in New Delhi, especially in the wake of tightening Moscow-Beijing ties.

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At the defence minister's meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the Russian minister said that the US and its allies constantly opposed the formation of a multipolar world in the Asia-Pacific, with "counter-measures" through military alliances such as Quad and Aukus.

"The concept of a free and open Indo-Pacific region is now promoted...In order to contain China, a front is forming," he said, stressing that the US and "its enablers" are pushing a strategic agenda to provoke a military confrontation with Russia and China.

"The conflict in Ukraine is a clear demonstration of this criminal policy. Its real aim is to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, threaten China, and maintain its monopoly position in the world," Shoigu said.

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