Washington policymakers have coined the acronym “CRINK” to represent the alliance of China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, expressing significant concern and often labeling it as an “Axis of Evils”. This term echoes the language used by President George W. Bush, who described Iraq, Iran, and North Korea similarly decades ago. This fear is not limited to the United States; many Western capitals view this alliance as a new and formidable challenge. Each of these nations boasts a strong military, and Iran and North Korea are making significant advancements in nuclear weapons development, military hardware, and missile technology. In response, Western policymakers are intensifying their efforts to align as many countries as possible against CRINK, using both incentives and pressure. On the other hand, Washington and its European allies are intensifying intimidating and punitive policies by continuing imposing of sanctions on those four nations.
Western nations often attempt to influence countries in the Global South by highlighting issues like human rights, rule of law, and freedom of expression. They sometimes label governments as “autocratic”, “dictatorial”, or “authoritarian” to pressure them into prioritizing Western interests over national ones, distancing themselves from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
An Economist Intelligence Unit........