As of 2025, the strategic rapprochement between Russia and China has raised serious concerns regarding global security balances. The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, stated during the Shangri-La Dialogue held in Singapore that the deepening of relations between these two countries is “extremely worrying” for the world. Kallas emphasized that the discourse of China and Russia about “leading together” represents a transformation not seen in a century and signals a revision of the global security order.[1]
These remarks, especially when evaluated alongside developments such as North Korean soldiers fighting with the Russian army, draw the attention of the international community to the potential threats posed by this alliance. Kallas, stating that the security of Europe and Asia are interconnected, emphasized that such alliances could lead to instability not only at a regional level but also on a global scale. The deepening of relations between Russia and China has become a source of strategic concern not only for the European Union but also for the entire world. These developments require a reassessment of international security policies and the establishment of new strategic partnerships.
In February 2022, Russia and China declared a “no-limits partnership,” elevating their relations to a strategic level. As of 2025, this partnership has been reinforced through concrete steps across various sectors. For instance, Russia’s VEB Development Bank announced a financing package of approximately 42 billion USD for projects to be carried out jointly with Chinese companies.[2] These projects span sectors such as natural gas, metallurgy, timber processing, and shipbuilding. Although there is no formal military alliance between Russia and China, military cooperation has been steadily increasing. In 2024, the two countries conducted 14 joint military exercises.
Russia is also known to have supported China’s efforts to develop a missile early warning system. This system is considered a significant step in enhancing China’s defense capabilities. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the sanctions imposed by the West have brought Moscow economically closer to Beijing. In 2024, the trade volume between the two countries reached 245 billion USD. While China has become Russia’s largest trading partner, Russia has emerged as a key supplier of China’s energy needs. This has deepened the economic interdependence between the two states. Russia and China also continue their cooperation in the fields of space exploration and technology. In 2025, the two countries signed cooperation agreements for the construction of the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS). Such projects are seen not only as a means of deepening the strategic partnership between Russia and China but also as an attempt to provide an alternative to space exploration efforts led by the West.
In response to the strategic partnership formed by Russia and China, EU member states have been taking various steps to ensure their own security and enhance their strategic autonomy. In this context, the “Readiness 2030” initiative, proposed in 2025 by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, aims to strengthen Europe’s defense infrastructure. The plan envisions an investment of approximately 800 billion euros to boost Europe’s defense capacity and improve preparedness against external threats.
In an effort to enhance its security and achieve strategic autonomy, Europe has been pursuing new alliances and partnerships. In this context, the “Weimar+” group, established in 2025, is an expanded diplomatic and geopolitical alliance that includes France, Germany, and Poland, as well as the United Kingdom, Italy, and Spain. This group was formed with the aim of coordinating Europe’s security and defense policies. Additionally, the EU has signed a partnership agreement with Japan to strengthen cooperation in the fields of security and defense. This agreement reflects the EU’s growing intention to engage more actively in security matters in the Asia-Pacific region.
The deepening strategic partnership between Russia and China is increasingly viewed as an attempt to establish an alternative center of power that challenges the existing Western-centric global order. Advocating a vision of a “multipolar world,” these two countries oppose unilateralism and hegemonic approaches in international relations. In particular, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Moscow in May 2025 reinforced both the symbolic and strategic significance of this partnership.
The strategic partnership between Russia and China represents a dynamic that challenges the current international security architecture. This alliance casts doubt on the effectiveness of Western-led security structures and encourages the search for alternative security arrangements. The evolving relationship between China and Russia in recent years holds the potential to shape the trajectory of global politics. Although both parties describe this rapprochement as a friendly and mutually beneficial partnership, in the current geopolitical context, it appears not only as a pragmatic choice but also as a strategic necessity.
At the core of this relationship lies a shared stance developed in opposition to the liberal order led by the West, particularly the United States. In this context, the closeness between the parties may stem more from a sense of “opposition” than from genuine cooperation. However, such developments have introduced notable security and strategic ambiguities, especially from a European perspective. A noteworthy point, however, is that this alliance still contains fragile elements. Economic asymmetries, historical distrust, and latent competitive potential are among the key dynamics that prevent this relationship from evolving into a fully consolidated bloc. Therefore, the partnership in question may also be interpreted as a form of “forced convergence.”
In terms of the future of the global system, this rapprochement signals a shift away from a unipolar or rigidly balanced world toward a more flexible and multi-dimensional international order. This evolving landscape will require not only major powers but also medium and small-sized actors to reassess their foreign policy approaches.
In conclusion, the strategic rapprochement between Russia and China is part of a broader transformation that resonates not only in the East but across all axes of the global order. This transformation entails a challenge not only in military or economic terms, but also at a normative level. How the international community responds to this new reality will shape not only the resolution of short-term crises but also the long-term structure of the international system.
[1] “Video. EU’s Kallas warns against Russia and China’s growing alliance”, Euronews, https://www.euronews.com/video/2025/05/31/eu-top-diplomat-warns-world-should-be-extremely-worried-about-russia-and-chinas-relationsh, (Accessed on June 1, 2025).
[2] “Russia’s VEB development bank plans $42 billion in funding for projects with China, chairman says”, Reuters, https://shorturl.at/8Au58, (Accessed on June 1, 2025).
