The strengthening alliance between Russia, North Korea and Iran has been described as one of the biggest issues to be prepared for in 2024 by New York-based political risk consulting firm Eurasia Group.
Speaking about the top 10 issues the world is facing this year, Eurasia placed this dangerous partnership it named the “axis of rogue” in fifth position.
The report read: “Russia, North Korea, and Iran are the world’s most powerful rogue states.
“In 2024, deeper alignment and mutual support among these rogue states will pose a growing threat to global stability as they boost one another’s capabilities and act in increasingly coordinated and disruptive ways on the global stage.”
These three countries’ “coordinated sanctions-busting and rule-breaking” is dangerous on a global scale, the firm warned.
By undermining the “deterrent power of Western sanctions”, Tehran, Pyongyang and Moscow could end up “emboldening other would-be rogues”, the Eurasia Group’s report read.
Following its illegal invasion of Ukraine and the Western sanctions that followed, Russia has grown increasingly closer to Tehran and Pyongyang.
Both these countries, subjected for years to Western sanctions, have decided to supply Russia with some of the military support Vladimir Putin needs to carry on with the grinding conflict in Ukraine.
While Iran is already known to be sending drones to Moscow for its war against Kyiv, the White House expressed fears in November that Tehran could provide Russia also with ballistic missiles, which would be disastrous for war-torn Ukraine.
The collaboration between Pyongyang and Moscow escalated during the spring and summer of 2023, during which Kim Jong-un and Putin are believed to have struck a deal seeing North Korea delivering ammunition in exchange for food and advanced tech.
The results of this partnership became apparent last week, when the US said Russia had launched short-range ballistic missiles sourced from North Korea to conduct multiple strikes against Ukraine.
While the Kremlin declined to comment on the assertion, the UK “strongly condemned” the move. A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson added last week the British government was “urging” Pyongyang to cease its arms supply to Russia.
The statement also read: “Russia is turning to North Korea for its weapons in pursuit of its cynical and ill-conceived military aims in Ukraine. This is symptomatic of its isolation on the world stage and a sign of its desperation.
“Furthermore, this activity is in violation of multiple UN Security Council Resolutions – which Russia supported as a permanent member.”
