Signal Concern grows over a Belarus-Russia-Iran-North Korea-China alignment

Summary

The report warns that the retreat of US and European power and influence could lead to the very outcome American strategists have long feared: reconciliation and deepening strategic cooperation between the two Eurasian powers, Russia and China. It observes that Iran and North Korea have recently appeared to join the strong strategic solidarity between China and Russia. This has raised concern about the possible emergence of an alignment dubbed BRIKS, grouping Belarus, Russia, Iran, North Korea and China. The authors present the concern as a consequence of weaker Western engagement combined with unprecedented cohesion between Moscow and Beijing. For Korea the prospect matters because the report ties a strengthened Russia-North Korea alliance to rising security threats against it.