In what amounts to a diplomatic coup, China will host both North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin next week. The two leaders will attend a massive military parade in Beijing on Wednesday that marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
The event will proceed despite a boycott from Western leaders. The United States and its major European allies are staying away to protest Putin’s involvement in the Ukraine conflict, a move that only serves to highlight the growing influence of the China-led bloc.
For Kim Jong Un, this trip is his first outside North Korea since 2019 and is of immense strategic importance. It is a key opportunity to strengthen his relationship with President Xi Jinping and ensure the continued flow of economic support from his country’s most vital partner.
The gathering in Beijing is a clear signal of a new geopolitical reality. With North Korea providing military support to Russia, the joint appearance of Kim, Xi, and Putin will be a carefully choreographed display of their shared interests and opposition to Western dominance.