Russia-North Korea pact dooms US hopes of Indo-Pacific dominance

Russia is slowly increasing its presence in the east as it has been modernising its fleet with the commissioning of eight new warships, four nuclear-powered submarines and conventional submarines, all between 2022 and October 2023. During this same period, Russia’s Pacific Fleet staged eight strategic-level naval exercises.

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Putin, Kim sign ‘strongest ever’ defence treaty amid growing tensions with the West

This does not consider the casualties US forces and American allies could incur in the South China Sea, which would likely see the bulk of the action. Such developments would necessitate a multilayered response, enhancing coordination and intelligence sharing among China, Russia and North Korea and further complicating the regional landscape for US operations.

This expanded theatre of conflict, encompassing a potential combat theatre of 3.69 million sq km in the South China Sea in addition to 978,000 sq km in the Sea of Japan, would likely strain US and allied resources.

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North Korea’s Kim Jong-un guides country’s 1st ‘nuclear trigger’ simulation drills

While the US and its allies try to maintain the status quo, their adversaries are united in their ambition to forge a multipolar world. US policies meant to isolate its rivals have instead consolidated them into a bloc that Washington might be ill-equipped to handle.

These new alliances against the US-led world order are more united in their ambition to create a multipolar world and resist US dominance than the US and its allies are in maintaining the status quo. It is time for the US to rethink its approach and embrace diplomacy through mutual respect and peaceful coexistence.

Otherwise, it will be forced to choose between saving Europe, maintaining its influence in