Episode 495: Axis on Parade: Kim, Xi, and Putin in Beijing

Today, Martha, Les, and Matt unpack the rare joint appearance of Kim Jong Un, Xi Jinping, and Vladimir Putin at Beijing’s massive September 3rd military parade—marking 80 years since Japan’s WWII surrender. The spectacle highlights a deepening alignment among China, Russia, and North Korea, even as Trump’s recent summit with Putin and potential meeting with Xi raise questions about how U.S. outreach could alter their dynamic.What are Kim, Xi, and Putin hoping to signal by appearing together? How do their competing interests—North Korea’s nuclear ambitions, Russia’s war in Ukraine, and China’s broader global strategy—complicate the façade of unity? And as Washington considers its next moves, can the U.S. exploit fractures amongst these countries or does the Beijing display represent a more durable front against Western power?Check out these sources that helped shape our experts’ opinions: https://www.wsj.com/world/asia/kim-and-putin-to-join-xi-in-show-of-unity-at-beijing-military-parade-98948203 https://www.npr.org/2025/08/28/g-s1-85964/north-koreas-kim-will-meet-with-xi-and-putin-at-chinese-military-parade https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx29z9g2kl2o @LesterMunson@marthamillerdc@WMattHayden Like what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @faultlines_pod and @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/6Sd1bYhqcMI  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.