According to US intelligence officials, although China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea have been forming a united front, they have not yet coalesced into a tightly-knit alliance that could effectively counter the United States.
Intelligence officials believe that, to some extent, these four axis countries have been facing difficulties due to their own flaws.
It was reported by Voice of America that on Thursday, December 5th, US National Intelligence Director Avril Haines stated during a session with the think tank Foreign Relations Committee, “They are not operating as a group.”
She mentioned that the intelligence community does not see them as “a quadrilateral alliance or a similar organization.”
“We believe it is unlikely for them to become allies like the way we have partnered with NATO, achieving that level of interoperability and military cooperation,” she added.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, concerns have been growing among the US and its allies about increased cooperation among Russia, China (CCP), Iran, and North Korea. Intelligence indicates that China, North Korea, and Iran are providing Russia with technology, missiles, drones, and even troops.
Haines stated that there is indeed enhanced cooperation among these four countries, and they are further attempting to evade international sanctions on weapons of mass destruction.
She also mentioned that there are indications that Russia is willing to take action to allow Beijing to surpass the US in critical areas.
“They are willing to offer more chips at the negotiating table with China, providing Beijing with something to achieve a significant breakthrough in certain technical fields or other areas of concern to us,” Haines said.
NATO allies in Washington have also issued similar warnings in recent months. Some NATO officials told Voice of America that these four axis countries have sparked the beginning of a new global arms race.
Concerns persist externally about China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea increasingly engaging in activities in gray areas.
A declassified US National Intelligence Assessment report released in July warned that in the next five to six years, “there may be more frequent, diverse, and destructive coercion and sabotage behaviors – especially those of the threats and sabotage behaviors of the CCP, Iran, Russia, and North Korea – even though the constitution of these actions is below armed conflict, but it surpasses historically legitimate boundaries.”
The intelligence director also warned that these countries are targeting the Trump administration set to take office in January 2025.
“Some country actors are trying to lay the groundwork early for the next (US) government,” Haines said.
She mentioned that intelligence analysts are preparing reports on this issue to share with the incoming administration of Trump and are closely monitoring the possibility of these countries seeking to escalate tensions during the transition period.
“For example, North Korea often takes provocative actions during transition periods,” Haines said. “This is one of the typical events we have been closely monitoring.”
During his campaign, Trump stated that if elected, he would “dismantle” the alliance between China and Russia, as China and Russia are “enemies” of the United States.
Trump said the alliance between China and Russia is “dangerous.”
(This article is partly based on reports from Voice of America)