Russia and China signed on Tuesday a roadmap for deeper military cooperation as the two countries continue to boost ties in the face of increasing pressure from the US and other Western countries.
The deal was agreed to in virtual talks between Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and his Chinese counterpart, Wei Fenghe. The Russian Defense Ministry said the military leaders “expressed a shared interest in stepping up strategic military exercises and joint patrols” between the two countries.
“China and Russia have been strategic partners for many years,” Shoigu said. “Today, in conditions of increasing geopolitical turbulence and growing conflict potential in various parts of the world, the development of our interaction is especially relevant.”
Shoigu pointed to an increase in US bomber activity near Russia and in East Asia as a reason to increase cooperation with China. Wei told Shoigu that Russia has successfully countered pressure and threats from Washington.
“You’ve successfully countered the pressure and deterrence from the US, as well as military threats from the US,” Wei said, adding that China has also “withstood the US pressure and deterrence.”
In October, China and Russia held their first-ever joint naval patrols in the western Pacific. Earlier this year, the two nations held major army drills in northwest China that integrated Russian troops into Chinese formations for the first time.
Western efforts to pull Russia and China apart by sanctioning and attacking them both are funnier than any 3 men walking into a bar joke–hands down.
The irony is that Russia and China are not natural allies. For that matter, Russia and Iran also are not natural allies.
They have been pushed together as a result of American aggression.
Well said FF, well said. At least our AA (American aggression) is good for something!
I am not sure of that. Eurasian countries share thousands of years of history, some bad some positive — but it goes way back, and mind-set is probably closer. All Eurasian countries have a long history of conflict with Western colonization or outright invasions.
Both have a bad experience with Western countries in arriving at mutually acceptable solutions, and even harder having those agreements last. What is happening is reinforcements of negatives.
By that logic, Russia and Central Asia ought to have worse relations than they do.
FF. Just curious. Not trying to refute you or anything but what make you say that russia, China, Iran are not natural allies? Does not have to do with their skin color or culture unlike the west where they all came from Europe and have white skin and have “shared values: like psuedo democracy or religion?
Good question. Natural allies are countries where each has what the other wants, and can best provide through cooperation.
Skin color, etc. ain’t got nothing to do with it.