By Daniel DePetris
At first glance, it appears Russian President Vladimir Putin is an international pariah, devoid of any friends or partners. Russia's war in Ukraine, the most destructive conflict on European soil in nearly 80 years, has severed Moscow's relations with the West and forced Russian diplomats into some awkward exchanges, including at this week's G20 summit. Even French President Emmanuel Macron, who once counseled his colleagues to not humiliate Russia, is now solidly in Ukraine's camp.
Russia, however, isn't totally isolated. Though many countries outside the West prefer a quick end to the war, some are undoubtedly in Russia's corner. Iran has sold hundreds of combat drones to Moscow since August and is allegedly preparing to deliver short-range ballistic missiles to backfill the Russian arsenal. U.S. intelligence suspects North Korea is secretly shipping Soviet-era ammunition to Russia through the Middle East. And China, while shying away from providing the Kremlin military support, remains Putin's most important diplomatic and economic shield; Beijing is now Moscow's top trading partner and has scooped up substantial amounts of Russian crude oil, helping Putin offset a dwindling European market.
All of this has led some to suggest that Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea are on the cusp of forming a new axis of autocracies. The reality, however, is far less sensationalist. What is occurring is not the emergence of a strategic alliance among the four, but rather a temporary alignment in which three powers (China, Iran, and North Korea) are using the other (Russia) to promote their own interests.
This piece was originally published in Newsweek on November 18, 2022. Read more HERE.