Not much time has passed, but now the meeting in Anchorage between Trump and Putin seems to me to mark yet another victory (a mockery) for the Russian President over the West and yet another diplomatic debacle for the man (Trump) who wants to win every game, but in the end loses match after match. Why do I think this? We've gone directly from the cold of Anchorage to the hushed atmosphere of Tiananmen Square. I see the new wave declaring in clear terms to the entire world, "Without us, we're going nowhere." It doesn't seem real, but it's the reality of the facts. If we add to this the presence of Kim Jong-un, welcomed with full honours as if he were any other Mitterrand. We have to deal with goosebumps that evidently impact any geopolitical analysis. The countries participating in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting (China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan), representing 40% of the world's population and four of them nuclear-armed powers, spoke out loudly, and Washington heard (and understood) everything. China and Russia signed further agreements and strengthened their understanding, demonstrating that this partnership has reached a level approaching a true "iron pact." But what does this meeting, recently held in the home of the Chinese Dragon, have to tell us?
Russia wanted to reaffirm that Ukraine can only exist if it is content with neutrality; China wished to demonstrate its renewed military capabilities; Kim (accompanied in Beijing by his daughter Kim Ju-ae) reaffirmed his willingness to send all young North Koreans to the slaughter (should their partners need it, as happened on the Russian-Ukrainian border) in exchange for unwavering defense of the regime. Then Modi, returning to China after seven years, wanted to make clear to the American administration his displeasure with the way the trade tariff issue is being handled. And how did Trump take it? I think his voice echoed throughout the White House. Ultimately, it's hard not to see the theatrics just displayed in Beijing as a mockery of the US. That said, while bombs continue to rain down on population centres, the Russian litany of "Resolving the crisis is our priority, let the dialogue continue" continues. At this point, a trilateral meeting between Trump, Putin, and Zelensky seems rather complicated to me, much less do I consider a bilateral "Putin Zelensky" meeting feasible.
At the same time, I might wager a few chips on a quadrilateral "Xi, Trump, Putin, Zelensky." And what's Europe up to? I fear that with the debt storm about to be unleashed in France and the United Kingdom, Brussels and its environs will somewhat put aside the idea of staunchly defending their motherland, Ukraine. I also believe that this latest "China meeting" has highlighted how Putin needs Xi more than Xi Jinping needs Putin. The Russia-China agreement for the construction of the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline, to transport Russian gas to China, seems to me to be more convenient for Russia than for China. As usual, China's foresight has managed to seize every opportunity. As soon as Xi Jinping sensed something fishy (i.e., he saw that Trump had begun a serious rapprochement with Putin), he immediately took advantage of the situation to make Putin a concession (of a commercial nature) that Russia urgently needs. In short, the United States emerged with its bones broken and without even having touched the ball. The US administration has projected the image of a world that wants to grow and rule without considering American dictates and rules.
Meanwhile, Trump's umpteenth (even more ridiculous) ultimatum to Moscow regarding negotiations with Kiev has also expired. Obviously, there have been (and will be) no consequences for Moscow. Trump continues to bark left and right, but now many are starting to show up under his kennel and steal the bone from under his nose. Let's see how it goes this time. There's no reason to believe anything different from the past will happen. I expect yet another display of Trump's dialectical strength, which will then quickly dissipate over time, before we move on to yet another spectacle. In short, while the Global South is disengaging from Washington, Europe is the only country that continues to respond "Yes, Lord!" evidence, if need be, of its complete psychological dependence on the United States.