Rivals for centuries, Russia and China have grown closer, forming a de facto alliance driven by shared opposition to US dominance. Their economic, military, and political ties deepened, especially after Russia’s 2014 Crimea annexation and further strengthened following the 2022 Ukraine invasion.
Personal rapport between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, common authoritarian governance, and mutual interests in challenging the US-led global order underpin this partnership. Despite some Chinese reservations about Russia’s war, their cooperation worries democratic nations concerned about global power shifts.
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