ISTANBUL

A “mild mutiny” is taking place within NATO, Russia’s foreign minister said Monday, citing growing disagreements among member states and rising discontent over what he called ideological impositions.

Speaking to reporters after attending a BRICS economic bloc summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sergey Lavrov argued that NATO’s expansion has failed to benefit even its own members.

“There are deepening disagreements, a kind of mild mutiny is brewing on the ship, since more and more countries want to be guided not by some ideological guidelines imposed by the owner, but by their own national interests,” he said.

Lavrov also dismissed Western claims that BRICS’ expansion since last year has weakened the bloc’s unity, asserting that the group remains cohesive and focused.

“There has never been such a risk in BRICS, and I do not see any threat of blurring our activities,” he said.

Since last year, several new members have joined longstanding BRICS members Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

He underlined that BRICS operates on principles of equality, consensus, and mutual respect, which he said stand in contrast to NATO’s structure.

“BRICS has always relied on consensus that truly reflects the balance of interests, and is not dictated by the elder brother,” Lavrov said.

“I cannot agree with such attempts to artificially describe BRICS as an organization that is exhausting its purpose. On the contrary, its potential is only just beginning to be revealed,” he added.

Russia has long opposed the expansion of NATO in Europe and would like to see the alliance smaller and less united.