Russia’s Defence Minister, Andrei Belousov, arrived in Beijing on Monday for a series of talks with China’s military leadership, as announced by the Russian defence ministry. This visit signals a continued strengthening of the military and economic cooperation between the two nations, a partnership that has deepened significantly since the beginning of Russia’s offensive in Ukraine in February 2022.
The close alliance between Moscow and Beijing has raised concerns in the West, as both countries strive to expand their global influence. This deepening relationship began before the Ukraine conflict, with both countries declaring a “no limits” partnership shortly before the Russian invasion. Since then, they have engaged in multiple joint military exercises, demonstrating their growing collaboration on the global stage.
During his visit, Defence Minister Belousov will engage in “a number of negotiations with the country’s military and military-political leadership,” according to the Russian defence ministry.
President Vladimir Putin has also voiced his confidence in the relationship, stating in August that Russia’s economic and trade ties with China were “yielding results”. He further highlighted that both countries are actively working on joint “economic and humanitarian” projects.
The growing military collaboration between Russia and China was evident last month when Russian and Chinese warships conducted joint drills in the Sea of Japan, part of a major naval exercise that Putin described as the largest of its kind in three decades. These exercises serve as a tangible demonstration of the increasingly strong military partnership between the two nations.