Xi and Putin jointly criticise US over nuclear and security policies

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin have issued a joint statement criticising the United States over its nuclear posture and broader security policies, signalling a deepening alignment between Beijing and Moscow on strategic affairs. The two leaders used the occasion to present a united front against what they characterised as destabilising US-led security frameworks, challenging the existing global order on multiple fronts.

The joint criticism spans concerns over nuclear deterrence, arms control frameworks, and Washington's regional security partnerships, areas where both China and Russia have long-standing grievances. By coordinating their messaging publicly, Xi and Putin are projecting a consolidated geopolitical bloc at a time of intensifying great-power competition.

The development carries immediate implications for multilateral arms control architecture, particularly as the New START treaty has lapsed and no successor agreement is in place. Analysts are likely to view the statement as a coordinated pressure tactic ahead of any future negotiations on nuclear or security arrangements.

For Pakistan and the broader South Asian region, a deepening Sino-Russian alignment against US security policies complicates the already delicate balancing act Islamabad performs between Washington, Beijing, and Moscow. The statement adds another layer of tension to an already volatile global security environment.