Last month, Russian President Putin paid a state visit to China, underscoring strategic relations between Moscow and Beijing as well as personal ties between Putin and XI. Several bilateral agreements were inked during the visit ranging from trade, investment, technology transfer, defence and arms, reflecting the nature of natural partners for a multipolar world. Meanwhile, both leaders already expressed their countries’ relations as a “No Limits partnership” before the verge of the Ukraine war in 2022.

There are multiple reasons behind fostering Moscow and Beijing relations. Few analysts argued that the authoritarian nature of both governments and the leader’s personality is the chief factor for the closeness of Sino-Russia ties. However, the ground reality is quite opposite and striking. The leading factor of Sino-Russia’s strong ties is the USA, whose policies in Indo-Pacific and Europe are pulling the strings of Beijing and Moscow to come closer for the safety of mutual interests.

Regarding Russia, the USA has positioned itself as the protector of Europe since the end of the Cold War and embarked on the mission of eastward expansion of NATO, near the Russian borders, without taking any account of Russia’s concerns of security. Not only the Eastward expansion of NATO but also the Color revolution for regime change operation in East Europe in terms of the replacement of pro-Moscow governments with pro-western governments another source of irritation for Putin Russia. During the NATO Summit in Bucharest (2008), the USA decided to give NATO membership to Georgia and Ukraine, providing the last nail in the coffin for Moscow. That year Putin’s Russia decided to fight back against American imperialism in Russia’s backyard.

American........

© Daily Times