Russian President Vladimir Putin made a four-day visit to the People’s Republic of China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit and the parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, organized by Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
This visit is significant for Putin, as his talks with Xi Jinping and leaders of the Global South focus not only on tactics in the war against Ukraine, but also on building relations with U.S. President Donald Trump. Both the Russian and Chinese leaders see Trump’s tenure as an opportunity to reduce U.S. global influence and achieve preferred positions on the world stage, favoring an authoritarian order.
Putin is a key guest at both the summit and the celebrations. He will stand alongside Xi Jinping at the anniversary parade, which indicates a rise in his diplomatic significance compared to the 2022 SCO summit, where Xi took center stage and Putin appeared marginalized.
This improvement in Putin's position is largely due to Donald Trump. Whereas in 2022 Putin was viewed as diplomatically isolated, now even Washington has to take his actions into account. His demonstrative partnership with China highlights a new phase in the relations of authoritarian states.
Additionally, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in China for the first time in years, seeking to repair ties with both Russia and China amid uncertainty over the U.S. introduction of new tariffs under Trump.
The gathering of Global South leaders in China demonstrates their intention to counter Western influence. For Ukraine, this is a reminder of the need for solidarity among democratic states, as the growing cohesion of authoritarian regimes could threaten global stability.
