Putin's Criticisms of NATO, China, and Military Alliances
Russian President Vladimir Putin compared NATO's plans to strengthen cooperation with Asia-Pacific countries to an alliance of the Axis powers in World War II. Putin attempted to compare this to the Axis powers in World War II—the three principal partners in this alliance were Germany, Italy, and Japan. NATO has said that it is becoming "increasingly important to address cross-cutting security issues and global challenges, as well as to defend the rules-based international order" by strengthening ties with "like-minded partners across the globe."