Russia is receiving crucial support from a coalition of authoritarian states, with China playing a central role by supplying over 90% of the microelectronics that Russia imports. This support has helped Russia survive under Western sanctions and restore its production of precision weaponry.
This is stated by Michael Carpenter in his article in Foreign Affairs.
The analyst describes the change in the situation regarding support for Russia: 'Only a few months after the war began, Western intelligence agencies discovered that Russia's stock of precision munitions was significantly depleted.' However, everything changed when 'in the fall of that year, Iran began supplying drones to Russia. By 2023, China became the main supplier of dual-use technologies to Russia.'
'China's contribution to Russia's defense industrial base is significantly more important than those of Iran or North Korea,' Carpenter emphasizes.
The expert calls for a 'unified transatlantic approach' to counter Chinese support for Russia. 'If the war in Ukraine is to be deterred and ultimately resolved, Europe must clearly communicate to Beijing that normal commercial relations cannot coexist alongside support for a war against the European security order,' he states.
The article provides evidence and analyses of the support that Russia receives from China and other authoritarian states. This reflects important changes in the geopolitical landscape of Europe and the world, which may have serious implications for international relations in the future.