EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas has issued a stark warning regarding the recent gathering of world leaders in Beijing, asserting that China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea now form a cohesive “autocratic alliance.”
Speaking to journalists in Brussels on Wednesday, September 3, Kallas described this emerging bloc as one “pursuing a fast track to a new world order.” She stressed that President Xi Jinping’s presence alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian leaders, and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at a military parade in the Chinese capital transcends mere anti-Western posturing. “This is a direct challenge to the rules-based international system,” she remarked, highlighting the symbolic weight of the event.
In contrast, the European representation in Beijing was limited. Among current EU leaders, only Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić traveled to the Chinese capital. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also attended the parade, underscoring the selective participation of global leaders.
During his visit, Fico held a private meeting with President Putin, after which he indicated that he expects “calls from all EU leaders” in the coming days to discuss the outcome and implications of the encounter. Fico further revealed that his discussions with the Russian president yielded “several messages and reflections,” which he intends to convey to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The meeting in Beijing and the alignment of these leaders has raised alarm in Brussels, reflecting growing concerns within the EU about coordinated efforts by authoritarian regimes to challenge international norms and reshape the global order. Kallas’ comments underscore a heightened sense of urgency for the EU to monitor and respond to shifts in global power dynamics.
