The United States has said that Russia and its President, Vladimir Putin, serve as a counterweight to the influence of the United States and NATO, according to a White House spokesperson. The statement was made in the context of the relationship between Russia and China, with China’s President, Xi Jinping, reportedly seeing Russia as a strategic partner in his efforts to counterbalance US global influence. The article that follows will explore this dynamic, providing insights into the motivations and strategies of these three major world powers as they navigate the complex geopolitics of the 21st century.
In a recent development, the White House has stated that Chinese President Xi Jinping views Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia as a counterweight to American and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) influence in the world. This statement was made by John Kirby, the National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the White House, as Putin hosted the Chinese leader. Kirby said that the two countries are growing closer together over the years. However, he refrained from calling it an alliance, stating that it is merely a marriage of convenience between the two leaders.
President Xi Jinping views President Putin and Russia as a potential counterweight to American and NATO influence, especially on the continent and around the globe. On the other hand, President Putin perceives President Xi as a potential ally. Putin doesn’t have significant international support, and President Xi’s backing would mean the world to him. While commenting on the joint statement issued after the Putin-Xi meeting, Kirby said that the two sides merely mentioned that they must observe the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and respect international law regarding Ukraine. Kirby stated that following the UN Charter would require Russia to withdraw from all Ukrainian territory, given that it is a member state of the UN, which Russia has invaded.
Kirby noted that the UN Charter upholds the principles of respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, including Ukraine. He added that the two sides have called for the cessation of all steps that contribute to the escalation of tension and the prolongation of hostilities. Kirby claimed that one way to stop hostilities in Ukraine is for Russia to pull its troops out of the region. However, given that Russia has not done so yet, Kirby urged Putin to stop bombing hospitals, bombing schools, launching Iranian drones into civilian infrastructure, and forcibly deporting thousands of young children, putting them into filtration camps inside Ukraine and Russia.
Kirby also mentioned that Russia is now a junior partner of China, and when asked if Russia is a client state of China, he noted that Russia is certainly the junior partner in that particular bilateral relationship. He also responded to another question, stating that the US does not believe that China has taken providing lethal aid to Russia off the table, but they haven’t taken any steps in that direction.
In conclusion, it is evident that both Russia and China are leaning towards each other in the face of American and NATO influence worldwide. Although this is not an official alliance, it is a clear indication that the two countries share similar views on various international issues. It will be interesting to see how the world order evolves with such a development, given the two countries’ economic and military might.
