China, Russia, Iran Forming Anti-U.S. Hegemonic Alliance ‘Axis Powers’?

Actions reminiscent of Japan, Ishigaki, and Japan that caused World War II… “The most dangerous scenario for America”

“The most dangerous scenario would be an ‘anti-hegemonic solidarity’ that complements each other’s grievances, not the huge solidarity and ideology of China, Russia, and Iran.” This is what Zbigniew Brzezinski, a prominent strategist who served as the White House National Security Advisor, suggested in his 1997 book, The Grand Chessboard, as the scenario that threatens US hegemony after the end of the Cold War.

China, Russia, and Iran are joining forces against the West, including the United States, as Brzezinski predicted 26 years ago. Their challenge is reminiscent of the Axis Powers solidarity formed by Germany, Italy, and Japan that fought against the Allied Powers such as the United States and Britain during World War II. Germany, Italy, and Japan signed the Tripartite Pact on September 27, 1940, and promised to repel it by mobilizing all political, economic, and military means if one country is attacked by any force.

Recently, China, Russia, and Iran are actively pushing for a ‘New Axis Of Tyrannies’ solidarity with anti-American and anti-Western links. Cooperation is being strengthened in all directions, including diplomacy and security, as well as the economy and energy. What these three countries have in common is that the dictator rules the country with an iron fist with unrestricted power. China is a socialist country dominated by the Communist Party. For the first time since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, President Xi Jinping confirmed his third term as president, establishing a one-man dictatorship in name and reality by taking control of the party, government, and military.

Russia, which succeeded the former Soviet Union, has been an authoritarian state in which the United Russia Party has dominated the federal parliament, local governments, and parliaments since its founding. After being elected president in 2000, President Vladimir Putin has maintained his presidency until now, except for serving as prime minister from 2008 to 2012, a more influential person than the president.

After the successful Islamic Revolution in 1979, Iran became a theocracy ruled by clergy. After the death of the first Rahbar (supreme leader of the country) Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989, his successor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has ruled until now. Rahbar, whose term of office is for life, is the head of state and holds a higher position than the president, who is merely the head of government, and exercises all the powers of the state. It is no exaggeration to say that these three countries do not have the freedom and human rights of the people, as well as fair laws and democratic institutions.

Another thing these three countries have in common is that they are receiving various sanctions from the US and the West. The United States is banning the export of semiconductors and other cutting-edge technologies to China, which is challenging its hegemony. In addition, along with Western countries, various sanctions have been imposed on China, taking issue with the suppression of human rights of ethnic minorities such as the Uyghurs. Russia, which invaded Ukraine, is also facing strong sanctions from Western countries, including the United States. The same goes for Iran, which has pursued nuclear development and recently violently suppressed protests against wearing the hijab.

In addition, these three countries have one thing in common: dreaming of an ’empire’. President Xi has shown ambitions to create a Chinese empire, President Putin a Eurasian empire, and Khamenei an Islamic empire. Harvard University’s Belfer Center at Kennedy School pointed out in a recently released report, “Historically, these three countries have an aversion to the hegemonic order centered on the United States and the West.” In particular, the United States and President Joe Biden see the international order as a confrontation between the democratic forces of their country and the West versus the authoritarian forces of these three countries in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Der Spiegel, a German current affairs weekly, also analyzed that “As China and Iran took the side of Russia, the Russia-Ukraine war expanded into a ‘new (new) Cold War’ in which the democratic camp and the authoritarian dictatorship camp confront each other.” The New York Times of the United States also pointed out that “these three countries are the core countries of the anti-American bloc,” and that “these three countries are emerging as the ‘New Axis’.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) talks with Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a visit to Tehran in July 2022. [크렘린궁]

In fact, the leaders of these three countries are acting like ‘allies’ while strengthening security and economic cooperation through the summit. In particular, Russia sets the military and China the economy as key areas, leading Iran to a ‘trilateral solidarity system’. In July of last year, President Putin visited Tehran, the capital of Iran, and had a summit meeting with Khamenei, and agreed to build close ties against the pressure from the United States and the West. Iran was the first place President Putin visited outside the former Soviet Union after the invasion of Ukraine. In the wake of President Putin’s visit, Iran is providing a large amount of self-destruct drone Shahed-136, ammunition, and shells to Russia, which has exhausted various weapons due to the war in Ukraine. The Russian military is indiscriminately attacking infrastructure such as power facilities in Ukraine with the Shaheed-136, which has a speed of 185 km per hour and a maximum range of 1000 km. In return, Russia plans to provide Iran with 24 Su-35 fighter jets this spring.

The Su-35, a 4.5 generation fighter, has a range of 3400 km, a combat radius of 1600 km, and a maximum speed of Mach 2.35. The Su-35, which was produced to counter the US F-15 fighter, has been evaluated as excellent in air combat due to its excellent maneuverability. The US also sanctioned Russia for exporting 24 Su-35s to China in 2018. It is the first time that Iran has imported foreign fighters since the introduction of the former Soviet-made MiG-29 fighter jets from Russia in the 1990s. In the meantime, Iran has not been able to import high-performance fighter jets due to strong US sanctions. The main aircraft of the Iranian Air Force is the F-14, which was introduced from the United States before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. However, the F-14, which has 80 units, is virtually ‘junk’ because it cannot transfer parts or maintenance technology from the United States.

If Iran possesses the Su-35, its air power will be significantly increased, which will have a significant impact on the balance of military power in the Middle East. Russia is also building reactors 2 and 3 at Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant following reactor 1. Spent fuel rods from these plants are reprocessed in Russia. Russia is actively supporting Iran’s position to suspend nuclear negotiations with the West and the United States and demand the lifting of sanctions.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) inspects the Chinese honor guard with Iranian President Ebrahim Raishi in February. [중국 외교부]

China also considers Iran a de facto ally. President Xi held a summit meeting with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who visited Beijing, China on February 14, and agreed to strengthen cooperation in all areas, including diplomacy, military, and economy. The two countries have signed a ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement’ in 2021. According to this agreement, China will receive a stable supply of oil from Iran, and Iran will receive investment from China in the amount of 400 billion dollars (approximately 523 trillion won) in each field including finance, telecommunications, ports, and railways over 25 years. . China is Iran’s largest trading partner. China is almost the only importer of crude oil from Iran, which is under a strong US export ban. Iran is selling oil to China through a disguised delivery system that can circumvent sanctions, exporting an average of 1.2 million barrels a day to China last December, a record high.

China and Russia have built a united front to stand against the US and the West. President Xi and President Putin have held 40 summit meetings since 2013, showing off their friendship beyond honeymoon. President Xi and President Putin also declared at a summit held on the occasion of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics in February last year that “the friendship between the two countries has no end.” President Xi paid a state visit to Russia from March 20 to 22 and held a summit meeting with President Putin. In particular, as soon as President Xi started his third term as President of the State, he chose Russia as his first overseas visit to meet with President Putin, which is intended to further solidify the “anti-American front” against US pressure.

China is also playing a supporting role for Russia, which is struggling in the war in Ukraine. China has been the largest importer of Russian oil and gas over the past year. Trade between the two countries is also expanding, reaching 190 billion dollars (about 248.4 trillion won), a 34.3 percent increase from the previous year. The New York Times pointed out that “Xi’s visit to Russia is the clearest sign of China’s support for President Putin.” Xinhua News Agency, a state-run media outlet in China, said in a commentary titled ‘Mature and Strong Sino-Russian Relations’, “The comprehensive strategic cooperative relationship between China and Russia is as stable as a mountain.” The comprehensive strategic cooperative relationship between China and Russia will continue to be elevated to a higher level.”

For five days from March 15 to 19, the three countries conducted a combined military exercise called ‘Sea Seatbelt-2023′ by mobilizing destroyers and others in the Gulf of Oman. The joint military exercises of these three countries are the third after 2019 and 2022. Iran officially participated as a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a multilateral security cooperation launched by China and Russia last year against NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). Considering these various circumstances, these three countries may launch a ’21st century version of the Axis Powers’ alliance by further strengthening cooperation in security and economy.

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Janghoon Lee International Affairs Analyst [email protected]

Source: Donga

Mark

Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.