A growing alignment between China, Russia, and North Korea is increasingly shaping international security, with the trio acting as an authoritarian axis that impacts conflicts in both Ukraine and the Middle East. This deepening cooperation is causing concern among global observers, as these nations work in concert to challenge the influence of the United States and its international partners.
Russia is playing a central role in this dynamic, actively supporting Iran while simultaneously managing its invasion of Ukraine. Reports from March detailed extensive Russian assistance to Tehran, including the provision of food, medicine, and intelligence, such as targeting data intended to help Iran strike U.S. assets in the region. Furthermore, Iran has supplied Russia with Shahed drones for use in Ukraine. According to the Financial Times, the latest versions of these drones are being significantly upgraded with modifications to navigation, engines, and anti-jamming capabilities. There are indications that these advanced drones incorporate Chinese components, including cameras and radio modems. Additionally, Russia is sharing its own combat experience in Ukraine with Iran, offering tactical guidance on drone operation altitudes and deployment strategies.
China’s involvement is also significant. In May, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned 18 entities and individuals—12 Chinese entities and six individuals—for their support of Iran’s ballistic missile program. Evidence suggests China has provided chemical precursors and other dual-use materials to facilitate Iran’s missile development.
North Korea is further solidifying this axis, with reports indicating it is preparing to deploy approximately 30,000 troops to Russia. On July 30, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russia’s Voronezh region was being prepared to receive these North Korean forces. Zelenskyy also noted that North Korea is likely providing additional missile launchers to bolster Russian military operations. Beyond direct military aid, Zelenskyy warned that Russia is helping North Korea improve its weaponry and gain combat experience, a development that poses a clear threat to Indo-Pacific nations, particularly Japan and South Korea.
The collective assistance provided by these authoritarian powers threatens to prolong regional conflicts and destabilize security in the Middle East and beyond. Experts suggest that Indo-Pacific powers, including Australia, should remain alert as this cooperation deepens, with concerns that targets like Taiwan could face similar pressures in the future.
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This article was originally published in ASPI’s The Strategist .
