An unlikely trio of leaders will dominate the stage in Beijing next week as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un joins Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. They will gather for a military parade on Wednesday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
The event has been shaped by a diplomatic boycott from the West. Leaders from the U.S. and its major European allies are refusing to attend due to their opposition to Putin, which has turned the parade into an exclusive showcase for this emerging Eastern alliance.
This visit is Kim’s first to China in years, a trip of immense importance for shoring up his country’s most vital relationship. With North Korea’s economy so heavily dependent on China, this is a mission he cannot afford to fail.
The sight of the three leaders together is a powerful symbol of their shared interests in countering U.S. global influence. It is a public affirmation of a partnership that has been growing stronger, particularly with North Korea’s recent military support for Russia.