The Strategic Benefits of Xi and Putin's Friendship

Chinese President Xi Jinping is visiting Moscow to show solidarity with his "dear friend" Vladimir Putin, highlighting Russia's reliance on China to keep its economy and war machine running. China has helped shield Russia from Western efforts to isolate it following the invasion of Ukraine, significantly increased imports of Russian oil, and become an even more crucial source for Russia of key inputs like microchips. While Xi may consider Putin his “best friend,” he has more practical reasons for aligning with Moscow, including Russia's key role in providing oil, arms, and military technology to China, and as an ideological ally in its rivalry with the U.S.