Xi and Putin’s Growing Alliance Alarms Trump
This week, Chinese President Xi Jinping touched down in Russia for a high-profile four-day visit, and he didn’t waste time signaling solidarity with Vladimir Putin. From red carpets and military parades to official statements, the display was carefully orchestrated to send a message to Washington: this alliance is strong—and independent of U.S. influence.
Xi was joined by nearly 30 world leaders, but it was his presence that mattered most. For Putin, it was tangible proof that Russia isn’t alone, even as the U.S. tries to isolate it. Standing beside Putin in one of the Kremlin’s most lavish halls, Xi helped breathe new life into the “no-limits” partnership they originally declared in early 2022—just before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Both leaders pushed a familiar narrative: the world needs a new power balance that doesn’t revolve around the United States. Putin emphasized their relationship as “equal and mutually beneficial,” while Xi called Putin an “old friend” and described their ties as “confident, stable, and resilient.”
Victory Day Becomes a Stage for Unity
During celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, Putin leaned heavily into symbolism. Flanked by Xi, he invoked Russia’s victory over Nazi Germany, linking it—once again—to his ongoing war in Ukraine. “Together with our Chinese friends,” Putin declared, “we stand guard over historical truth... and counter modern manifestations of neo-Nazism and militarism.”
That framing has been widely rejected by Ukraine and the West, who accuse Putin of using historical revisionism to justify his aggression. Still, the Victory Day parade proceeded with foreign military participation, including a prominent Chinese contingent marching alongside troops from Vietnam, Belarus, Laos, Mongolia, and Egypt.
Robert Tollast, a researcher at the Royal United Services Institute, said the spectacle underscored how both Xi and Putin now see little value in hiding their alignment. “They believe they have nothing to lose,” he said.
China Keeps Russia Afloat as Trump Watches Uneasily
For Putin, Xi’s visit couldn’t come at a better time. Western sanctions have battered the Russian economy since 2022, but China has provided a crucial lifeline—buying up Russian oil and quietly supplying components like microchips that help fuel Moscow’s military capabilities.
Xi described the China-Russia partnership as a “natural continuation” of a deep-rooted relationship and pledged joint support for “multipolar economic globalization.” His message: China and Russia are ready to champion a world order that doesn’t rely on U.S. dominance.
Back in the U.S., Trump is feeling the pressure. As Xi and Putin deepen their bond, Trump has been trying to ease tensions with China. While announcing a new trade deal with the UK, Trump hinted that his administration might reduce steep tariffs on Chinese goods—some of which currently exceed 145%.
“You can’t get any higher—it’s at 145, so we know it’s coming down,” he said, adding that an upcoming meeting between U.S. and Chinese trade officials in Switzerland would be “very friendly” and handled “in an elegant way.”
Xi famously referred to Putin as his “best friend” during a 2019 visit to Moscow, and Putin has returned the sentiment ever since—most recently during their May 2024 meeting in Beijing, where he again called Xi a “dear friend.”
