Zihadul Islam<\/p>\n
\u2018For the powerful, crimes are those that others commit,\u2019 Noam Chomsky once remarked, highlighting a key critique of US global dominance. Now, the US faces another confrontation with its rivals \u2013 China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (CRINK) \u2013 a coalition that endangers the global order, as described in the research termed \u201cAxis of Upheaval,\u201d coined by Andrea Kendall-Taylor, a fellow and director at the Center for a New American Security.
\nAs the Biden administration\u2019s foreign policy has seen deviation, these four countries are teaming up against the US, challenging the global political system through anti-Western and anti-hegemony collaboration that significantly challenges international political norms. Thus, America faces a new type of challenge in dealing with these four autocratic states. In the two years since Russia\u2019s invasion, the evidence of their convergence has mounted, making it impossible and even irresponsible to dismiss their alignment. Let\u2019s explore the situation currently unfolding on the world stage.
\nFirst, Russia is engaged in a war that marks Putin\u2019s point of no return in his effort to undermine NATO and the West \u2013 particularly the US \u2013 pursuing a long-term confrontation. To better position Moscow for this conflict, Putin has effectively doubled down on relations with like-minded partners: China, Iran, and North Korea. This has made Russia the key catalyst of this emerging axis. In the current war, Moscow has deployed over 3,700 Iranian Shahed drones and is producing 330 of these drones monthly inside Russia.
\nMoreover, Russia and Iran share deep ties, which are expected to extend further in the coming years. In 2022, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi proposed a 20-year cooperation agreement, which will be finalized soon. In exchange, Russia has provided Iran and Iranian proxies, such as Hezbollah, with more weapons, especially following the onset of the 2023 Israel-Hezbollah conflict. In 2024, this dynamic saw little change. Russia defended Hezbollah and Hamas, offering arms and ammunition to groups that share Iran\u2019s political vision.
\nNext, China \u2013 a rising global power \u2013 has emerged as a new threat to the in global trade, military, and diplomatic affairs, which has raised concerns for the US as China\u2019s ambition is to surpass America\u2019s sphere of dominance from Asia to Africa and Latin America. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China wields significant influence, often using its position to neutralize US and allied actions towards North Korea, Russia, and Iran. China has also solidified its relationship with these countries, dealing treaties with Iran and Russia and using megaphone diplomacy with the US.
\nFollowing the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, China became Russia\u2019s new major oil and gas importer, effectively replacing Saudi Arabia. China exported $300 million worth of dual-use items \u2013 goods with both civilian and military applications-including microchips, jamming equipment, telecommunications gear, jet plane parts, sensors, and radar systems. These exports have helped sustain Russia\u2019s war effort and offset the effects of Western sanctions.
\nFurther along, Putin\u2019s surprise visit to North Korea shocked global media, as he praised Kim Jong-un for \u201cfirmly supporting\u201d Moscow\u2019s war in Ukraine. Putin also promised to build trade and security systems with Pyongyang \u201cthat are not controlled by the West.\u201d During the war, North Korea supplied roughly 2.5 million rounds of ammunition and ballistic missiles to Russia, with Russia vowing to send energy, food, and other essential goods to North Korea in return.
\nDiplomatically, Russia and China use their UN Security Council positions to shield Iran and North Korea from sanctions, strengthening their bond for greater aspirations. Diplomatic ties are also growing through platforms like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS, which recently granted Iran membership. In reality, despite heavy sanctions imposed by the US, this axis has turned adversity into opportunity, forging stronger ties through security treaties and threatening the West.
\n\u201cUnder threat in a way we haven\u2019t seen since the Cold War,\u201d warned CIA Director Bill Burns and MI6 Chief Richard Moore, as the Axis continues to destabilize the world order. This statement also highlights the growing fear of the Axis of Upheaval.
\nAndrea Kendall-Taylor, the originator of the term \u201cAxis of Upheaval,\u201d suggested increasing defence funding to help Ukraine win the war as a way to destabilize this emerging alliance.
\nIn response, Western nations, led by the US, have focused on countering the collective challenge posed by the Axis. This has involved strengthening existing alliances, enhancing the Indo-Pacific strategy, and increasing the EU defence budget. Meanwhile, the Axis of Upheaval has coordinated countermeasures to bypass sanctions and undermine the global financial system by using its currencies for trade.
\nThis growing confrontation is likely to further increase global tensions, much like the widespread impacts of the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars, which have halted global trade in some regions.
\nSmart power and diplomatic measures may ease this pressure, and the upcoming US elections could also shift the dynamics. However, the true impact of this new era of confrontation remains to be seen.<\/p>\n
The writer is a student of Dhaka University, has Masters in Islamic Studies and interested in international politics.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Zihadul Islam \u2018For the powerful, crimes are those that others commit,\u2019 Noam Chomsky once remarked, highlighting a key critique of US global dominance. Now, the US faces another confrontation with its rivals \u2013 China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (CRINK) \u2013 a coalition that endangers the global order, as described in the research termed \u201cAxis […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[13459],"class_list":{"0":"post-431961","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-article","7":"tag-zihadul-islam"},"yoast_head":"\n