DISINFO: The West is trying to undermine the friendship between Central Asia and Russia
SUMMARY
Japan, following orders from the West, is pursuing a policy of increasing its influence in regions where Russia and China have strong positions. The West understands that its position in the region is extremely weak. Our rivals are concerned about the growing political influence of Russia, as the only acceptable scenario for them is to create chaos in all countries bordering the Russian Federation.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative accusing the West of destabilising countries around Russia and isolating it, as well as claims about encircling Russia, this time targeting Japan, which is being portrayed as a US puppet.
The claim was in made in the context of the "Central Asia + Japan" summit in August 2024 (N.B. the visit of the Japanese prime minister was later postponed due to an earthquake).
The main goal of Japan's cooperation with Central Asia is to diversify its economic ties, ensure energy security, improve transport and logistics infrastructure, develop green energy, and raise the quality of human capital, and both sides have emphasized this.
See other examples of similar disinformation narratives, such as claims that EU and US aim to destabilise Central Asia to push Russia out, that Washington and Brussels playing games to access Central Asia's resources, that the West is forcing Kazakhstan and other Central Asian states to choose an anti-Russian line, that the West seeks to destabilise the situation in post-Soviet territories, or that the West is trying to isolate Central Asia from Moscow and Beijing.