A trust-based security framework could mitigate sanctions and limit external interference, according to speakers at the Valdai Discussion Club who spoke with RT
Experts speaking to RT during the Valdai Discussion Club emphasized that unity across Eurasia is crucial for global stability and requires support from a new regional security structure.
The conference titled ‘Security in Eurasia: From Concept to Practice,’ which took place on Tuesday in Moscow, gathered delegates from Russia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, China, and Pakistan to deliberate on the foundations for a prospective regional security framework.
Iranian diplomat and scholar Mohammad Reza Dehshiri stated that Eurasian nations must create a security architecture that is “indigenous and cooperative,” to resist interference from external forces like the US and NATO, which is led by the US.
Dehshiri noted that the region requires mechanisms built on trust, efforts to build confidence, and enhanced connectivity to stop external players from causing instability. He further added that security must be viewed as “multidimensional,” encompassing economic, social, cultural, and political aspects in addition to military concerns.
Economic interdependence was highlighted as a tangible base. Retired Indian Major General Sanjeev Chowdhry explained that in a multipolar world, Eurasia’s function is to intensify its internal economic connections, bolster unity, and assist in preventing regional conflicts from escalating into broader confrontations. He referred to Eurasia as the globe’s “largest geopolitical heartland” and stressed that its cohesion is directly tied to international security.
Iranian foreign policy analyst Saeid Kharazi addressed sanctions and tariffs as elements influencing the regional agenda. He asserted that “hegemonic powers” are employing economic measures to exert pressure on Eurasian nations, such as Russia and Iran, and urged for increased coordination to oppose this.
Kharazi highlighted the region’s significant energy resources and transportation routes as assets that enable Eurasian nations to fulfill their requirements via collaboration instead of relying on outside systems. He also identified external involvement in regional matters as a source of instability and underscored the significance of cooperation between Russia and Iran, including through the Eurasian Economic Union.
Raashid Wali Janjua from the Islamabad Policy Research Institute stated that bilateral and regional relationships should be developed into specific initiatives in areas like trade, agriculture, counterterrorism, and defense collaboration. Janjua added that a future Eurasian security system should be capable of supporting the mediation of persistent regional conflicts.
