China hosted defence ministers from Russia, Iran, and other nations in the eastern coastal city of Qingdao on Thursday, as global conflicts and shifting alliances continued to shape the international security landscape.
The high-level gathering took place under the umbrella of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a 10-member bloc often viewed as a counterbalance to Western-led alliances like NATO. The Qingdao meeting comes at a sensitive moment: a fragile ceasefire is holding between Iran and Israel after 12 days of conflict, and NATO leaders have just concluded a summit in The Hague where they pledged increased defence spending.
Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun described the event as a necessary response to global volatility. “As momentous changes of the century accelerate, unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise,” Dong said, according to state-run Xinhua News Agency.
Speaking to counterparts from Russia, Iran, Pakistan, Belarus, and others, Dong condemned what he described as “hegemonic, domineering and bullying acts” that threaten the international order. He called for stronger cooperation to ensure “an environment for peaceful development.”
The meeting was held in Qingdao, a city that also houses a major Chinese naval base, highlighting the security-oriented focus of the discussions.
Broader Geopolitical Context
The summit came just one day after NATO leaders met in Europe and committed to ramping up military budgets — a move largely seen as a concession to US President Donald Trump’s longstanding demands.
On the sidelines of the SCO meeting, Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov met with Dong and praised the relationship between Moscow and Beijing, saying bilateral ties were “at an unprecedentedly high level” and progressing steadily in all areas.
China has tried to position itself as neutral in Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, though many Western governments accuse Beijing of providing Moscow with key economic and diplomatic lifelines.
India’s Call for Unity
India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was also in attendance and emphasized the need for SCO nations to meet the expectations of their citizens while navigating today’s global challenges. “Globalisation, which once brought us closer together, has been losing momentum,” Singh stated in remarks shared by his office on X (formerly Twitter).
What you should know
China is leveraging its influence in the SCO to strengthen defence cooperation with countries like Iran and Russia, especially at a time when Western alliances like NATO are consolidating their power.
With mounting tensions in both the Middle East and Europe, meetings like the one in Qingdao highlight how global power blocs are being redefined through military diplomacy and strategic partnerships.
