Chinese President Xi Jinping invited Russian President Vladimir Putin for talks shortly after hosting US President Donald Trump, signaling closer coordination between Beijing and Moscow. The meeting follows Trump’s second-term policies, which, despite his pledge to “un-unite” Russia and China, have instead reinforced their partnership. The ongoing Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have made China increasingly dependent on Russian oil and gas, boosting bilateral trade by nearly 20 percent in the first four months of the year.

Energy cooperation is expanding, with new agreements between Chinese firms and Gazprom to increase gas imports and revive the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline project. Beyond economics, both nations share a perception of the US-led West as a destabilizing force, driving them to align more closely. The article traces how past US administrations, from Clinton to Biden, contributed to this alignment through NATO expansion, conflicts in Ukraine, and tensions over Taiwan.

Xi’s invitation to Putin, coming immediately after Trump’s visit, is portrayed as a deliberate signal that the Russo-Chinese alliance remains firm and resistant to US efforts to divide them.