Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think he meant that Russia is pretty much surrounded by NATO allies, excluding of course China and this is something Russia is not to happy about (stated this many times in the past as NATO was expanding).
> I think he meant that Russia is pretty much surrounded by NATO allies, excluding of course China And Kazakhstan. And Mongolia. And North Korea. And Belarus.
> And Mongolia
https://www.state.gov/u-s-relations-with-mongolia/
> Bordered by Russia and China, Mongolia describes the United States as its most important “third neighbor.” In 2019, the United States and Mongolia upgraded their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership.
> Mongolia deployed troops to Iraq from 2003 through October 2008. In Afghanistan, Mongolian soldiers supported Coalition operations for 18 years, with withdrawal underway in 2021 in coordination with the planned exit of U.S. forces. Training and equipment provided by the U.S. government support the professionalization of Mongolia’s defense forces and their continued engagement in United Nations peacekeeping operations. The United States military also regularly participates in Mongolia-hosted peacekeeping and humanitarian relief exercises, including the annual Khaan Quest exercise.
Seems like an "ally" to me.
> Kazakhstan
And while not as close, still maybe an "ally"?
https://www.state.gov/u-s-relations-with-Kazakhstan/
> In the years since Kazakhstan’s independence, the two countries have developed a strong and wide-ranging bilateral relationship, jointly referred to as an enhanced strategic partnership since 2018.
> Kazakhstan’s military participates in U.S.-funded military exercises like Steppe Eagle, Viking, Eager Lion, and Shanti Prayas.
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> North Korea
The Russian border with North Korea is about 20 miles long.