An axis, but not an alliance

This Thursday, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping will meet for the first time since the war in Ukraine broke out. The China expert Nadine Godehardt explained in an interview that the balance of power in the meeting, of which Putin had high expectations, was very different. “For China, Russia is one of many partners.” But for Russia, China is fundamentally important in order to continue playing globally.

Since 2014, the economic, military and political relationship between China and Russia has deepened in reaction to the sanctions imposed on Russia in the wake of the annexation of Crimea. However, Godehardt emphasizes that the axis is an alliance of convenience. Such overlapping interests can also change again quickly. “And the further escalation of the Ukraine war could be a trigger.”