A new report from the Atlantic Council sheds light on Russia’s increasingly close relationships with China, Iran, and North Korea, revealing how these partnerships have become crucial for Moscow as it continues its war in Ukraine. While often described as an “axis,” the report emphasizes that these ties are primarily bilateral, rather than a formalized alliance.
According to the Atlantic Council, these partnerships are underpinned by shared grievances against the United States and a collective desire to challenge the current US-led international order. Russian President Vladimir Putin has leveraged these relationships to bolster his military and economic capabilities while promoting a vision of a multipolar world in which the United States’ influence is diminished.
China: Moscow’s Economic and Strategic Lifeline
The report notes that Russia’s relationship with China, historically fraught and complex, has deepened significantly since 2014, and especially after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. China has become Russia’s largest trading partner, purchasing Russian hydrocarbons at discounted rates and supplying critical technology, microelectronics, and military components. This support has allowed Russia to sustain its war effort despite Western sanctions.
Military cooperation has expanded as well, with joint exercises and collaboration in advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and space systems. While the partnership is asymmetrical—Russia is far more dependent on China than vice versa—the Atlantic Council stresses that it represents a major geopolitical challenge for the United States, Europe, and regional Asian allies.
Iran: Drone Support and Strategic Connectivity
Iran has emerged as an indispensable partner in Russia’s war effort, supplying drones and co-producing Shahed drones used against Ukraine. Moscow and Tehran have formalized their ties through a strategic partnership treaty, though the report notes that Russia is not obliged to defend Iran militarily. Beyond military support, Iran is a key component of Russia’s Greater Eurasia project, enhancing connectivity through initiatives such as the North-South Transportation Corridor.
The Atlantic Council report highlights the ideological component of the relationship: both countries oppose the US-led order and advocate for a post-West world. However, tensions remain, particularly given Russia’s nuanced relations with Israel and the evolving dynamics of the Middle East.
North Korea: Troops, Weapons, and Strategic Signaling
North Korea’s value to Russia is both military and symbolic. Pyongyang has supplied artillery, ammunition, missiles, and soldiers to fight in Ukraine, while receiving advanced Russian military technology in return. A 2024 treaty signed by Putin and Kim Jong Un formalized the partnership, including a mutual defense clause.
The report notes that this partnership has enhanced North Korea’s international profile and reinforced Russia’s narrative as a leader of the “world majority,” particularly among Global South countries.
CRINK: An Emerging but Uneven Bloc
The Atlantic Council cautions that while the Russia-China-Iran-North Korea (CRINK) grouping represents a growing challenge to the West, it is not a formal alliance. Cooperation is largely bilateral and transactional, driven by shared interests in countering US influence rather than ideological cohesion. Historical tensions, mistrust, and divergent long-term goals among these countries mean that the bloc is inherently fragile.
Nonetheless, recent events—including the September 2025 military parade in Beijing attended by leaders from all four countries—underscore the potential for coordinated opposition to the US-led world order. China’s display of new intercontinental ballistic missiles at the parade drew particular concern from Western observers.
Policy Implications for the West
The Atlantic Council report stresses that the United States and its allies must develop a consistent strategy to contain the ambitions of CRINK countries. This includes deterring further Russian aggression in Ukraine, countering Chinese influence in Asia, monitoring Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and addressing North Korea’s growing military capabilities.
The report also emphasizes the importance of engaging with countries in the Global South, many of which remain non-aligned in the Ukraine conflict and are increasingly receptive to Russian and Chinese narratives. At the same time, the West should exploit existing tensions within the CRINK grouping to prevent it from solidifying into a cohesive bloc.
As the Atlantic Council notes, “Moscow will continue to rely on these partners for the duration of its war against Ukraine and beyond,” and while the relationships are transactional and uneven, they collectively represent a challenge to the United States, Europe, and their Asian allies.
