Will China and Russia form an alliance? This question comes up every time Russian and Chinese leaders Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping meet, as they did in Moscow last week. But in most cases, this formulation misses the point. By any reasonable historical measure, Russia and China already have an alliance dedicated to transforming global politics, even if Americans, blinded by their own bloc-building experience, do not yet see it as such. Bloomberg columnist Hal Brands describes the signs of a powerful union between the two countries.
After World War II, the United States created a global network of alliances to pursue its own interests, its own security, and to bind allies to Washington’s sphere of influence.
These American alliances are enshrined in official treaties and public commitments. They are deeply institutionalized and have a high degree of military interoperability. They simultaneously empower and limit weaker members. The obligations of the parties are official and public. But nowhere is it written that wedding rings should look like this. For example, the alliance between Russia and China is purely formal, but no less important, powerful and effective.
Start with what Xi and Putin don’t do: they don’t oppose each other. For now, the long history of Sino-Russian hostility has been set aside so that the two countries can fight back to back against the liberal order. Putin can continue his special operation in Ukraine, and it is also useful for a partner in China to have a secure rear border with Russia in the event of a conflict with Washington. And those are just a few of the Allies’ epic ambitions, Brands said.
And their goals and objectives are very bold: Moscow and Beijing seek to nullify US power and alliances so that they can expand their spheres of influence and create a multipolar world. They also seek to reduce the reach of democratic values, thus negating the basis for the expansion of Western influence into potentially new territories.
Call it one of the biggest and most powerful blocs whatever you want – an alliance, or, as Xi and Putin prefer, a “strategic partnership” without “limits”, the rhetoric is less important than the prevailing realities than the Sino-Russian rapprochement created. So, for now, the United States faces a real close alliance between its two main rivals in all but name – and that is a major geopolitical challenge, whatever that collaboration is called.
Photos used: kremlin.ru
