The deepened military relations between China and Russia was inevitable in response to challenges from the West. Conflict does not arise simply over current security considerations. It may be triggered by concerns over the changing international balance of power.

Born in the 1970s, the G7 is the primary mechanism for developed Western countries to meet and discuss policy. But it stubbornly adheres to ideological prejudice, which is why the organization is losing its appeal in the international community.

China has upped its international statesmanship, making waves by playing the middleman to a historic Iran-Saudi Arabia agreement. Working with other countries like India and Turkey, Beijing’s economic and diplomatic leverage can be a factor in bringing Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table.

Brazil, South America’s leader in GDP, has made several moves indicating a willingness to work with China in the near future. The establishment of the BRICS, as well as President Lula’s recent visit to China, should alert the West as to how Brazil has been swayed by China and its offerings.

European interests, in France’s view, will be ignored under the U.S. grand strategy to preserve its hegemony, and so Europe should avoid becoming a U.S. pawn. But this idea has yet to find wide sympathy in Europe, which looks to the United States for its security.

China’s latest diplomatic win, an expansive agreement with France, goes a long way in confirming China’s dream of becoming a global hegemon. Yet with conflict raging in Europe to this day, the end of the road is nowhere near.

To prevent further deterioration in relations, the United States needs to seek a better balance between dealing with Congress and engaging China. With the 2024 presidential election approaching, the hazards of Washington’s China policy will probably ferment.

Weaponized interdependence, through which powerful states leverage their position in the global network to achieve strategic goals, is increasingly relevant in the U.S.-China relationship. The U.S. uses its market power and network of alliances to exclude adversaries from the global dollar-dominated system, but this approach has also accelerated the process of global multipolarity and created opportunities for other countries to create alternative ecosystems.

The Butterfly Effect has taken flight. China’s diplomatic accomplishment in reconciling Saudi Arabia and Iran could have far-reaching consequences, with Ukraine’s future caught in its wake. The unexpected nature of this historic move means that its ramifications are rapidly gaining momentum and could unleash a tidal wave of global proportions, particularly in Europe.

The Xi-Putin summit seems to have had little immediate impact on China-Russia relations, the war on Ukraine, on other major global issues. But the context of the meeting underscores the durability of the Beijing-Moscow alignment.