The economic and political backing of China, the military support of Iran and North Korea, and the strategic depth granted by Belarus are among the pillars supporting the Kremlin.
In its attack on Ukraine and its challenge to the world order, Putin’s Russia has the indispensable support of several international partners
China provides Moscow with economic oxygen through increased supplies of key products and purchases of Russian natural resources
Iran provides vital military support with the delivery of drones and missiles
Belarus gives Moscow strategic depth by hosting part of its nuclear arsenal
Caucasian and Central Asian countries are important markets in the Kremlin’s maneuvers to circumvent Western sanctions.
China, Russia, North Korea and Iran form alliance at the United Nations against the U.S.
CHINA, Russia, North Korea and Iran have begun to strengthen their strategic ties as they combine efforts to counter what they see as an increasingly aggressive U.S. attempt to damage their interests.
At the center of that effort appears to be Beijing, Washington’s main strategic competitor, whose delegation held its first face-to-face talks with officials from President Joe Biden’s administration, resulting in an infrequent flare-up that may have served only to further stoke their enmity.
Wang Yi, China’s foreign minister, who was present along with the head of the Communist Party of China’s Foreign Affairs Commission Yang Jiechi at the tense talks held last Thursday in Alaska, will travel to Tehran this Friday to meet with his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, and President Hassan Rouhani.
Saeed Khatibzadeh, spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, said Tuesday that China and Iran plan to «strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries and exchange views on international and regional developments.»
Both nations are party to the 2015 multilateral nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), an agreement that offered sanctions relief against Iran in exchange for it curbing its nuclear program. The decision in 2018 by former U.S. President Donald Trump to exit the agreement and implement unilateral restrictions against Tehran led Tehran to omit some of the treaty’s limits on uranium enrichment, jeopardizing the agreement.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters that the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) was «at a critical juncture» but blamed Washington for not acting first to lift sanctions, an action to which Tehran would respond by reinstating its nuclear limits.
was «at a critical juncture,» but blamed Washington for not acting first to lift sanctions, an action to which Tehran would respond by reinstating its nuclear limits.
«The urgent task is for the United States to return to the comprehensive agreement regarding the Iranian nuclear issue and lift the relevant sanctions as soon as possible,» Hua said, «while Iran returns to compliance with that agreement, so that they act together to get the comprehensive agreement back on track.»
She said Beijing will remain committed to trying to get all parties to reach a consensus.
«China hopes that all parties concerned can increase their sense of urgency, meet each other halfway, and work to reach consensus on some initial steps as soon as possible,» Hua said, so that the United States and Iran can resume the process of implementing contact. To this end, China will continue to work actively with all parties.
Earlier in the day, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov met with Iranian Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali for a «broad exchange of views» on the current situation surrounding the nuclear deal. Moscow is also a member of the JCPOA and has urged Washington to suspend sanctions against Tehran to get the deal back on track.
China, Russia and Iran have also conducted joint military exercises at sea as tensions between Washington and Tehran have been developing.
This Monday, when Yang met with his Russian counterpart Sergey in talks held in the southern Chinese city of Guilin, Guangxi province, the JCPOA was among the topics discussed, as were reports of international frustration with the United States. This meeting took place almost immediately after the U.S.-China dialogue held in Anchorage, the first meeting between the two countries during the Biden administration. Wang and Yang discussed with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and White House security advisor Jake Sullivan the Iran deal and other issues, especially those related to the deteriorating relations between Beijing and Washington over sensitive issues such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, Tibet and Xinjiang.
CHINA IS NOT ALONE.
Although the statements following the interactions were more subdued, the scenes of the meeting itself showed moments of unusual tension between the delegations of the world’s two largest powers.
While U.S. officials accuse China of committing human rights abuses and coercion through economic, military, and political pressure,
Chinese officials have warned that their nation will no longer be pressured or intimidated by Western powers, as was the case in previous years.
«#China is no longer what it was 120 years ago, when foreign powers could force it to open its doors by arms,» Hua Chunying tweeted, summarizing her remarks in response to new sanctions imposed by the United States, Canada, Australia and the European Union.
. «Certain individuals colluding in politics, academia and the media should think twice if they believe they can make gratuitous smears with impunity.»
Beijing is not alone in this effort. Moscow and Tehran have also sought to counter Washington’s attempts to divide their growing ties in areas such as Syria, as well as in other fields where their interests have been challenged.
. Russia has been particularly outraged since Biden agreed with the characterization of Russian President Vladimir Putin as a «murderer» and warned that he would «pay a price» for alleged interference in the U.S. election, during an interview on ABC News.
Following Wang’s meeting with Lavrov on Monday, the two issued a joint statement calling on the international community, amid historic turbulence, «to strengthen mutual understanding and increase cooperation for global security and geopolitical stability, contribute to the establishment of a more just multipolar world order, democratic and rational.»
On the same day, the Chinese present, Xi Jinping, contacted another power and complained about the supposed lack of control of US hegemony. Through high-level diplomats from both countries, Xi exchanged verbal messages with North Korea’s Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, who gave details to the Chinese leader about the results of the Eighth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea,
At that high-profile meeting, Kim referred to the U.S. as «the main enemy» of North Korea, whose official name is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and vowed to «adopt a skillful strategy toward the U.S. and incessantly expand solidarity with independent anti-imperialist forces.»
Kim expressed his desire for North Korea and China to channel their traditional alliance and join their efforts to counter adverse powers.
«Reporting in detail what the Workers’ Party of Korea analyzed and decided regarding its policy stance on increasing the country’s defense capabilities, inter-Korean relations and relations between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the United States, [Kim Jong Un] emphasized the need to strengthen unity and cooperation between the two parties and both countries to deal with the general challenges and obstructive actions of hostile forces,» according to the Korean Central News Agency, the official body of that country.
A day earlier, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Son Gwon joined several nations in expressing a congratulatory message to Iran for the Persian New Year, known as Nowruz.
«Expressing the belief that the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries will be further developed and that mutual support and cooperation on the international stage will also be strengthened in the New Year, the message wished the Iranian foreign minister success in his work,» the Korean Central News Agency reported .
NORTH KOREA MOVED AWAY FROM DIPLOMACY.
Unlike Iran, which was the subject of a «maximum pressure» campaign that reversed previous years of diplomacy with the United States, North Korea experienced a loosening in its ties with the Trump administration, as did South Korea, an ally of the United States. However, when this process of denuclearization for peace and sanctions reduction failed to produce an agreement, Pyongyang moved away from diplomacy and vowed to strengthen its efforts in the country.
North Korean officials have dismissed U.S. attempts to make contact, making it a precondition to abandon «hostile policies.» Iran also says that nuclear negotiations must be based on the removal of sanctions.
The White House’s Internal National Security Strategic Guidance, released earlier this month, states that North Korea and Iran «continue to seek game-changing powers and technologies while threatening U.S. allies and partners and putting regional stability at risk.»
According to the document, China and Russia «have invested large amounts of money in efforts aimed at curbing U.S. strengths and defending our interests and our allies around the world.»
Beijing, Moscow, Tehran and Pyongyang have joined 13 other signatories in establishing the «Group of Friends in Defense of the United Nations Charter.» The coalition, made up of Algeria, Angola, Belarus, Bolivia, Cambodia, China, North Korea, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Laos, Nicaragua, Russia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Syria, Venezuela and the State of Palestine.
Among the group’s main postulates is «non-interference in the internal affairs of States, the peaceful resolution of disputes, and refraining from the use or threat of use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, as established by the Charter of the United Nations.»
For its part, the Biden administration has also been busy strengthening its alliances and partnerships. Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin toured Asia ahead of talks with China in Alaska, and both also made clear support for NATO’s Cold War-era military coalition, which currently consists of 30 countries.
Blinken met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, and among other important topics they discussed «concerns about malign activity and disinformation efforts by Russia and China.»
«We will strongly oppose Russia’s aggression and other actions that seek to harm our Alliance, and I think that approach is exactly what NATO has as well,» Blinken said. «And similarly, I think we have to make sure, and we will, that NATO also focuses on some of the challenges that China poses to the rules-based international order, which is also part of the 2030 vision.»