During the recent Victory Day parade in Moscow, China and Russia showcased their close relationship, a bond that some argue has been reinforced by the Biden administration’s foreign policy. China’s president, Xi Jinping, and Russian President Vladimir Putin marked this connection symbolically during the event, which commemorated 80 years since the end of World War II. By isolating both nations from major Western markets, the Biden administration inadvertently pushed them closer together, particularly through strict sanctions and a lack of diplomatic engagement.
Some analysts suggest that presenting China and Russia as two nuclear powers is somewhat of a misrepresentation. Tensions have been rising, especially with military buildup along the Chinese border. It’s interesting to think about how these dynamics have shifted in just a few years.
Warnings from the Biden administration about the consequences of China supporting Russia—especially during the Ukraine invasion—came in early 2022. Shortly after these warnings, China and Russia declared a “No Limit” partnership, deepening their political, economic, and military ties. Fast forward to late February of that year, and Russia had moved into Ukraine.
Despite assertions that China would halt its arms dealings, Beijing has reportedly continued to provide critical technology to Russia. It’s curious—one would think a more substantial intervention would have occurred, but Chinese involvement in the conflict has even included individual citizens on the ground in Ukraine, which is a striking development.
Instead of reversing course on sanctions, Biden ramped them up in mid-2024, targeting the financial resources fueling Russia’s efforts in Ukraine. This increased pressure led Russia to shift away from trading in U.S. dollars.
Interestingly, the sanctions aimed at China backfired, resulting in a surge of trade between China and Russia, with figures indicating that imports and exports soared to around $11 billion. China has also emerged as a primary buyer of discounted Russian oil, increasing its energy imports significantly. By the end of 2023, Russia became China’s top oil supplier, which is quite a notable shift.
Additionally, Iran has also stepped up its role as a leading oil supplier to China, aided by the lack of rigorous enforcement of sanctions on Iranian energy during Biden’s tenure. North Korea is another ally in this informal anti-Western coalition, reportedly supplying arms and manpower to Russia.
The BRICS alliance, involving Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has also gained momentum under Biden. They have made strides in moving away from the U.S. dollar in their trade, creating some concerns among analysts regarding the dollar’s future as the dominant reserve currency.
Former President Trump had a different approach, aiming to create distance between China and Russia, reminiscent of Nixon’s efforts to engage China during the Cold War. There’s a sentiment among some experts that the current administration’s actions may have solidified ties that Trump would have sought to weaken.
“This alignment wouldn’t happen under Trump,” one analyst remarked. “It’s a significant strategic error for the Biden administration to unite Russia and China.” It’s yet another intricate turn in global geopolitics, and the long-term implications are still unfolding.
