Beijing Summit: Xi welcomes Putin and Kim, but excludes Trump

In Beijing's Great Hall of the People, amid a solemn and carefully calculated atmosphere, Chinese President Xi Jinping brought together two figures who mark the pulse of global tensions: Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un. The meeting was much more than a diplomatic gesture; it was the staging of a united front of countries that share something in common: their rejection of the West.

The Russian president did not hesitate to praise what he called "unprecedented relations" with China and thanked his "dear friend" Xi for the hospitality. His words resonate at a time when Moscow faces sanctions and international isolation over the war in Ukraine, which has lasted more than three and a half years.

Meanwhile, Kim Jong Un's armored special train was moving toward Beijing, reminiscent of images from the Cold War, when communist leaders traveled in secret to consolidate alliances. The North Korean leader's presence symbolizes the intention to present a cohesive front, not only politically but also militarily.

Western analysts have dubbed this bloc the "Axis of Turmoil," a term that reflects the unease it generates in Washington and European capitals. The possible consolidation of defense pacts between Russia, China, and North Korea could shift the strategic balance in the Asia-Pacific. Furthermore, the Iranian leader's expected participation in China's military parade reinforces the idea of ​​a broader bloc of authoritarian regimes.

Donald Trump's isolationist policies, which have strained Washington's alliances, are becoming the backdrop for this summit. Xi himself, in a previous speech, issued a warning against "hegemonism and power politics," a clear allusion to the United States. Although Trump has boasted about his ties with Putin, Xi, and Kim, the reality of this bloc seems to diminish his prominence on the global stage.

It wasn't all about Russia and North Korea. Xi also met with Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, a country criticized by Washington for its purchases of Russian oil. This rapprochement demonstrates that Beijing is seeking to gain strategic allies to counter Western pressure.

From the White House, the tone was one of rejection. Scott Bessent, Trump's Treasury Secretary, called the summit "performative" and accused China and India of being "bad actors" for indirectly supporting Russia's war. However, the symbolism of the meeting and the possibility of bilateral or trilateral military pacts make the meeting a turning point in contemporary geopolitics.

Beyond the pomp of parades and speeches, the Beijing meeting sends an unequivocal message: the consolidation of an alternative bloc to the Western order. A narrative that combines diplomacy, defense, and economic strategy, with an eye toward an Asia-Pacific region that could redefine global equilibrium in the coming years.