The deepening alliance of Russia, North Korea, Iran, and China presents an escalating strategic challenge to the West. Dubbed the “axis of authoritarianism,” this coalition has strengthened its ties following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As Europe already grapples with its largest war since 1945, western democracies need to take serious steps to ensure security on the continent amid the specter of a Russia-NATO confrontation in the decade ahead.
The relationships within this bloc of authoritarian regimes are complex and wide-ranging, spanning trade, military cooperation-including arms sales, joint weapons production, and technological advancements-space programs, cybersecurity, and intelligence sharing. These efforts are complemented by initiatives to forge broader economic alliances and weaken the U.S. dominance through dedollarization.
Despite their breadth and intensity, U.S. and EU sanctions have failed to force Russia and its allies to reconsider their aggression. Instead, they have solidified Moscow’s image as a defiant anti-Western power, which some states admire.
This ‘quartet of chaos” exploits gaps in sanctions enforcement and export controls, enabling it to sustain and expand its destabilizing activities. A critical concern lies in the continued presence of Western components in weapons produced by Russia, Iran and North Korea, underscoring their ability to simultaneously bypass sanctions and adapt to restrictive measures.
The European Union plays an important part in countering the deepening cooperation between authoritarian regimes. Enhancing oversight mechanisms and closing existing loopholes are essential to limiting their expanding global influence.
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