Putin Meets Xi, Kim Jong Un, and Modi at China's Victory Day Event

Beijing Gathering and Global Optics

• 🇨🇳 China hosted Victory Day events in Beijing, commemorating the end of World War II and Japan's defeat.
• 🤝 Russian President Vladimir Putin attended, meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders, including North Korea's Kim Jong Un and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• 🌍 The gathering of leaders, described by critics as an "axis of upheaval," is seen as China's effort to project itself as a counterweight to American power and rally support from the "global south."

Geopolitical Messaging and Military Display

• 🗣️ President Xi Jinping has emphasized pushing back against hegemony, a term widely understood as a reference to the U.S.
• 🚀 The event featured a massive military parade, showcasing China's force projection with new warplanes, defense systems, and potentially hypersonic missiles.
• ⚠️ Critics noted the attendance of leaders often labeled as "strongmen" or "dictators," including Kim Jong Un, who traveled by armored train.

Substantial Agreements and Future Questions

• ⛽ A significant agreement was reached on Russian energy exports to China, including a new natural gas pipeline, "Power of Siberia 2."
• 📉 This new pipeline will help Russia offset losses from Europe's reduced imports of Russian gas following the invasion of Ukraine.
• 🤔 Key questions remain about potential further commitments, such as North Korea sending more troops to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and India's deepening ties with Russia and China.