Beijing-Moscow Nexus: Cooperation and Competition

The strategic partnership between Beijing and Moscow is well established, as is the growing coordination between the two powers and their global allies. Yet the underlying foundations and limitations of this relationship remain poorly understood

The Sino-Russian relationship is neither the “limitless friendship” promoted by Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping nor a fatally flawed marriage of convenience. Rather, CEPA’s analysis suggests it is best understood as a tiered strategic partnership. Yet the specific threats posed by this partnership — and the opportunities for Western disruption — remain unclear, leaving US policymakers ill-equipped to make the difficult choices required.

The China-Russia Meta Threat

The Architecture of Authoritarian Power

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A robust Western response to the Sino-Russian partnership requires a clear-eyed understanding of where Chinese and Russian interests converge, and where they diverge. Faced with limited resources, NATO allies need a foreign policy approach that prioritizes threats, weighs the costs and benefits of tradeoffs, and maximizes leverage.

Equally vital is American leadership in galvanizing European political will. This requires a clear-eyed, evidence-based foreign policy that understands the interests driving the Sino-Russian partnership, the means its authoritarian members have at their disposal, and the resources NATO needs to mount an effective defense.