Alignment. . .

(Alignment. . .)

After his "surprise" trip t Kiev the other day, he spent today in Warsaw. Poland, as a declared NATO Member and also on the front line, such as it is, President Biden trip is coming to an end and, aside from a pledge for more Ukrainian aid, the further alienation of Russia and now China have created an altered paradigm where Beijing and Moscow are moving on the same Axis, with President Putin and Premier Xi now in a partnership, provoked by the American counter-part who should have deferred to those who knew better.

To begin, Vladimir Putin has announced Russia's withdrawal from the Strategic Arms Reduction (START) Treaty.  Biden has been promising additional sanctions on Russia so Putin's reaction is not surprising. Abrogating START is one mechanism forward and would mean that any expansion of Russia's strategic arsenal can proceed without diplomatic impediment. Russia has been modernizing its ICBM's, bombers and sea launched missile force. It can be noted that this modernization is out-pacing American improvements of its own.

Now, at varying times throughout history, it was natural for "Russia" and "China," to be allied as well as antagonistic. Russia had been subjugated from China (Mongols) for centuries and once both had adopted Marxism-Leninism, such an alliance would seem to be natural. That relationship did sour eventually and the Amur, or Black Dragon River the Sino-Russian border, had become one of the more fortified frontiers in the world.

That being said, Chinese and Russian interests are aligning. Beijing is considering adding its own assistance to the Ukraine, on Russia's side. It is not hard, after those balloons, Chinese, Russian or by little green men, for Beijing to see opportunities with a greater involvement in the other Theater.

The final analysis, however, why Biden was in Eastern Europe this week is that his foreign policy has been a failure. China is not being held to account in the trade deals from the last Administration. Anybody can go and make an appearance for the cameras but without any thought on conflict termination. And that is what is needed above all.