Beijing parade spotlights cooperation among U.S. adversaries even as cracks appear

Leaders from Iran, North Korea and Russia joined around two dozen other heads of state in Beijing this week for a Chinese-hosted military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, an event that Chinese officials have framed as part of a bid for greater global leadership. The gathering has renewed discussion among policymakers and analysts about whether those states, together with China, are forging a coordinated front against the U.S.-led international order.

A Vox analysis published in February and reiterated by the outlet in an editor’s note on Sept. 2 said U.S. officials and scholars are increasingly treating the four countries as a cohesive unit, bound by a shared interest in challenging American influence. The assessment has been reinforced by public displays of mutual support and high-level meetings, even as tangible cooperation on security and military matters remains uneven.

Analysts and officials caution that displays of unity can mask significant differences in interests, priorities and capacities. Vox and other observers pointed to episodes since February that illustrate those limits. In June, when Iran experienced airstrikes attributed to Israeli and U.S. forces, several of Tehran’s usual partners provided little overt military or logistical assistance, a sign that political distance or strategic calculation can constrain collective action among the rivals.

The U.S. political landscape has also influenced how governments respond to the apparent alignment. The report said the administration of President Donald Trump has shown less inclination than the Biden administration to pursue a strategy of isolating and pressuring these governments. Washington’s approach was underscored by a recent summit between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, a meeting that signaled a different posture toward Moscow than that pursued by some previous U.S. administrations.

Observers note that the Beijing events served multiple purposes for the Chinese government: honoring the World War II milestone, projecting military pageantry, and signaling Beijing’s readiness to host and coordinate with an array of states dissatisfied with the current global order. The presence of leaders from Iran, North Korea and Russia provided a visual counterpoint to Western alliances and highlighted the reach of China's diplomatic networks.

At the same time, several analysts cited by Vox warned against labeling the participants as a monolithic bloc. Military coordination, intelligence sharing and economic integration among these governments vary widely and often depend on short-term tactical interests rather than a shared strategic blueprint. Differences over regional conflicts, economic priorities and bilateral grievances have periodically strained ties among them.

Some commentators have also suggested that other countries, including India, are navigating a complex environment in which deepening engagement with Beijing or Moscow sometimes appears to be a pragmatic response to what those states describe as erratic U.S. policy. But experts caution that alignment by proximity or interest in specific issues does not necessarily amount to a broad-based alliance aimed at overturning the existing international order.

The Beijing gatherings are likely to prompt continued scrutiny in Washington and allied capitals about how to calibrate diplomacy, deterrence and economic policy. Officials and analysts will be watching whether the current pattern of public displays translates into sustained, operational collaboration — or whether the gaps visible in recent months will persist, limiting the practical impact of the headline-making summitry and parades.