‘Putin has made his choice’: Russian leader stands shoulder to shoulder with autocrats in China

Geopolitics & Alliances - China showcased its military strength alongside Russia and North Korea, signaling a potential challenge to Western global leadership [1][2][3] - The US was not represented at the event, highlighting a potential divide in global alliances [3] - The discussion emphasizes the importance of the US maintaining strong alliances with countries that believe in the rule of law and human rights to counter the growing influence of autocracies [17][24] - There's concern that the US is alienating allies like India, potentially weakening its position against China [22][23] Military & Security - China displayed advanced weaponry, including hypersonic missiles and underwater drones, demonstrating its growing military capabilities [2][7] - The US military strength is emphasized, but the discussion also points out Russia's military weaknesses [19] - North Korea is providing soldiers and weapons to Russia, while China is supplying components and spare parts for the Russian defense industry, indicating a coordinated effort among these nations [28] Economic Landscape - The combined GDP of the US, EU, Japan, and Australia is estimated to be around $65-70 trillion annually, significantly larger than China's $20-25 trillion [18] - Russia's GDP is smaller than the size of Texas, and California's GDP is twice the size of Russia's, highlighting the economic disparities between these nations [18][19] Global Order & Autocracies - The world's autocracies are consolidating around their dislike of countries that promote the rule of law, transparency, accountability, and human rights [16][17] - There's a concern that autocrats are supporting each other to prevent revolutions and maintain their power [21] - Putin's actions in Ukraine and potential future aggression in Eastern Europe are seen as a threat to the global order [31][32]