Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has said that the military cooperation between Russia and China serves as a "stabilizing" influence in the world, reducing the possibility of conflict. Shoigu's remarks, reported by Russian news agencies, came as he spoke with his Chinese counterpart, Li Shangfu, who is in Moscow to deepen military ties between the two nations. This partnership has raised concerns among Western countries.
According to the Interfax news agency, Shoigu told Li on Tuesday, "The coordination of our efforts in the international arena has a stabilizing effect on the global situation and helps to reduce the potential for conflict." Li had previously met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday.
Shoigu emphasized the importance of the two countries' collaboration on the international stage and expressed confidence in the expansion of their joint military exercise program.
The strengthening of Russia and China's military cooperation comes in the wake of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine 14 months ago. Since then, China has become Russia's most crucial international partner. Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Moscow last month as a show of support for Putin. This visit occurred just days after the International Criminal Court called for Putin's arrest on suspicion of war crimes in Ukraine.
The growing military partnership between Russia and China has alarmed Western countries, who view the alliance as a challenge to their global influence. As Russia and China continue to deepen their military cooperation, the international community will closely monitor their actions and assess the impact of this partnership on global stability.
