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“Putin and Xi: Forging a Solidarity-Fueled New World Order in the Midst of Middle East Turmoil

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently voiced his support of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s vision for a new world order as the Middle East faces a crisis caused by U.S.-Iran tensions. During his annual press conference, Putin emphasized that Russia and China have a shared interest in maintaining stability in the region and that their governments stand together in the goal of making global politics more equitable. “President Xi Jinping has talked about creating another type of world order, of forming a new type of international relations,” said Putin, indicating that, from Russia’s perspective, the current geopolitical status quo is untenable. The Russian president’s comments come in the wake of weeks of escalating tensions between the US and Iran. The Trump administration authorized a drone strike which killed Iran’s top general, sparking the threat of military conflict between them. Moscow has sought to distance itself from Washington’s policy moves, irrevocably damaging diplomatic ties between the two countries. For his part, Putin has instead looked to China in order to formulate a different approach to global politics. In light of the crisis in the Middle East, he suggested that global politics should be based on a more collaborative approach. “Today, no one mention individual sovereignty, as if it was an outdated relic of a bygone era. Collective responsibility has taken on new meanings,” he said, expressing his agreement with Xi’s concepts. This idea of collective responsibility, for Putin, signals a shift away from the power politics of the past. He urged all nations to begin working in concert to solve the international political and economic problems plaguing the world today. In an already volatile global climate, it is clear that Putin is an advocate for overcoming the status quo. This is likely to be a major theme of his upcoming initiatives, and one can expect to see Putin and Xi engage in closer collaboration in the future.