Putin, Xi, and Kim Jong Un showcase united front in China summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un showcased a united front against the West during a series of high-level meetings and events in China.

The gatherings, which included the annual Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit and a massive military parade, underscored the deepening strategic, economic, and military cooperation between the three nations.

The summit and parade served as a clear message that China, Russia, and North Korea are actively positioning themselves as a counterweight to the United States and its allies. The SCO’s joint declaration endorsed a new, multipolar global order, with Xi Jinping introducing a "Global Governance Initiative" (GGI) aimed at challenging Western dominance.

Key Meetings and Military Pledges

• Putin and Xi: The two leaders held extensive talks and signed more than 20 cooperation documents. They praised their relationship as being at a "historic high" and finalized a new agreement on the Power of Siberia-2 gas pipeline, securing Russia's energy exports to China. They also signed deals on artificial intelligence and aerospace.
• Putin and Kim Jong Un: Putin met with Kim on the sidelines of the parade, with both leaders praising their deepening military partnership. Kim explicitly pledged North Korea's full support for Russia’s war in Ukraine, stating, "If there is any way that we can support Russia, we will always do it." According to Russian state media, Putin thanked Kim for the "bravery and heroism" of North Korean soldiers who have been deployed to Russia's border regions.

Show of Force and International Reaction

The week of diplomatic activity culminated in a massive military parade in Beijing to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The event was attended by dozens of leaders and featured a massive display of Chinese military hardware.

The presence of the three leaders together was widely seen as a direct signal of defiance to the West.

Trump's Reaction: President Donald Trump reacted sharply to the joint appearance on his social media platform, Truth Social. He accused the three leaders of "conspiring against the United States of America," and sarcastically questioned whether China would acknowledge the "massive amount of support... that The United States of America gave to China" during World War II.

European Response: The European Union's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, issued a strong rebuke, describing the show of unity as a "direct challenge to the international system built on rules." She stated that the military parade and the meetings were a clear sign of "deliberate attempts to change the international order."

China's Internal Message: During the parade, Chinese President Xi Jinping said China was "unstoppable" and "is never intimidated by any bullies," a phrase widely understood to be directed at the United States. The parade itself was a show of strength to China's domestic audience.