The goal of Western countries is to maximize the risks facing Russia in the South Caucasus and isolate it from regional global processes, Russian Security Council secretary Sergey Shoigu stated.

“The policy of Western countries is aimed at the exact opposite: destabilization, escalation of threats, reduction of our [i.e. Russia’s] cooperation with the Global South, and in the future, isolation of Russia from global processes,” Shoigu noted at a meeting of the presidium of the Scientific and Expert Council of the Russian Security Council.

He emphasized that Russia’s strategic adversaries are sparing no effort and resources to sever ties between the countries of the South Caucasus and Russia and create hotbeds of tension on its borders.