Russian President Vladimir Putin was in Beijing on Tuesday, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with his “dear friend” Chinese President Xi Jinping. The two leaders praised what they called their

“unprecedentedly high” relationship — a partnership that has only deepened since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Their meeting comes just a day before China hosts a massive military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, underscoring Beijing and Moscow’s shared message of unity against the West.

But it wasn’t just Russia and China making headlines in the Chinese capital. Leaders from Iran and North Korea also traveled to Beijing this week, highlighting a broader alignment among U.S. adversaries.

Iran pushes back on sanctions

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in town for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, sat down with Xi on Tuesday. In an interview with Chinese media, he blasted what he called Western “double standards” over Tehran’s nuclear program.

“The same countries that broke the nuclear deal are now accusing Iran of failing to honor it,” Pezeshkian said, referencing the Trump administration’s 2018 withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Iran, Russia, and China issued a joint letter to the U.N. earlier this week condemning renewed efforts by the U.K., France, and Germany to reimpose sanctions, calling the move “politically destructive.”

Kim Jong Un makes a rare trip

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un also rolled into Beijing on Tuesday, traveling in his signature armored train. He was greeted by senior Chinese officials, including Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

North Korea isn’t part of the SCO, but Kim’s recent closeness with Putin has fueled speculation about whether a formal partnership with China could be next.

Xi seemed to hint at this broader ambition on Monday, stressing the importance of blocs like SCO and BRICS — both of which include Russia and China — in resisting Western influence. “We must continue to take a clear stand against hegemonism and power politics,” he said.

Washington reacts

Back in Washington, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent brushed off the summit as little more than “theater,” accusing China and India — both members of SCO and BRICS — of enabling Moscow by buying up Russian oil and gas.

Still, Putin and Xi showed no signs of pulling back. The two announced a new natural gas deal on Tuesday, signaling that Beijing intends to keep expanding trade with Moscow despite the threat of heavy tariffs from former President Trump if U.S.-China trade talks fail this fall. Photo by User: Oskarp at wikivoyage shared, Wikimedia commons.