As tensions rise on the Ukrainian front, the world is watching the alliance between Russia and North Korea with growing apprehension. The situation takes on an even more dramatic dimension on the eve of the US presidential elections, while the declarations of the BRICS bloc and the moves of Moscow and Pyongyang outline scenarios of escalation. Just today, a message addressed to the United States appeared on the BRICS News Telegram channel: “Russia demands that the United States take its nuclear warnings seriously if it is to avoid World War III”. Although unofficial, this warning testifies to the BRICS’ growing support for Russia and a possible opening towards drastic measures against the West.
This aggressive rhetoric represents a challenge for the United States, forced to face an increasingly provocative Russia, now strengthened by North Korean military support. However, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, interviewed by CNN, offered a different reading of the situation, stating that Russia’s choice to resort to North Korean troops “It’s a clear sign of weakness”. According to Blinken, this step highlights Moscow’s isolation and its desperate need to find external support, a stark contrast to the perception of strength that the BRICS bloc attempts to project.
Blinken’s position may appear contradictory to Western concerns about nuclear threats, but this apparent inconsistency reflects complex power dynamics. On the one hand, the Secretary of State highlights that Russia’s use of North Korean soldiers signals a weakening of Moscow’s resources and growing isolation. On the other hand, the West fears nuclear threats not so much because of Russian strength, but because of the risk that a regime under pressure could go to extreme measures.
In this sense, the West would appear to fear not so much Russian military might per se, but the potentially catastrophic consequences of a troubled country trying to re-establish its position through nuclear threats. The future of international relations therefore appears to hang by a thread, with Russia seeking to expand its influence and the West preparing to respond to an unprecedented challenge.
On the eve of the American elections, the Ukrainian crisis and the Russian nuclear threat could become the central topic of the campaign, directly influencing voters’ choice. The recent warning on the BRICS News channel, aimed at the United States, has alarmed diplomatic circles, prompting the candidates to clarify how they intend to deal with such threats.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskij, in a post on Telegram, launched yet another appeal to the Western allies, asking for concrete interventions before North Korean troops reach the battlefield. “But instead… l‘America watches, Britain watches, Germany watches. Everyone is just waiting for the army North Korean starts attacking Ukrainians too”he commented, criticizing Western inertia.
The Ukrainian president’s concerns are confirmed by alarming data. According to the US State Department, around 8,000 North Korean soldiers have been deployed in Russia’s Kursk region, close to the Ukrainian border. As reported by CNN, Secretary of State Antony Blinken revealed that these troops, trained in artillery and drone operations, are ready to take to the front lines. “If these troops participated in combat operations against Ukraine, they would become legitimate military targets,” Blinken said during a news conference with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and South Korean leaders in Washington.
Kiev also pointed to flaws in Western sanctions that allow Moscow to continue receiving key components for its drones. “In October, more than 2,000 drones Shahed were used against Ukraine”Zelenskiy said, adding that such drones contain around 170,000 microcomponents, including microchips and sensors from companies in China, Europe and the United States. “Sanctions need to be strengthened; any sanctions evasion scheme is a crime against humanity and the world”the Ukrainian leader said in an interview with KoreanBroadcasting System (KBS), insisting on the need for greater export control.
These developments certainly do not represent an easy challenge for the administration that will arise from the upcoming elections in the United States. The new leadership will have to deal with an increasingly provocative Russia, backed by North Korean military support, and navigate the intricate dynamics of the BRICS bloc. A possible escalation of the conflict could expand the crisis, testing the unity of the Western front and global diplomatic strategies.
Recently, the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) bloc has expanded its membership by welcoming new members such as Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates, with the aim of strengthening its global influence. However, the true consolidation of the bloc will depend on the ability of the newcomers to collaborate with the founders, overcoming internal differences and coordinating policies. The expansion of the BRICS, still in the process of settling, could become a priority for intelligence agencies, as a power capable of eroding Western hegemony would emerge.
In this increasingly unstable framework, Ukraine and its allies find themselves operating in a highly volatile international context. “Our safety is everyone’s safety. And if we don’t act together, soon there will be no safety for anyone.”Zelenskij reiterated, alluding to the risk of a crisis capable of destabilizing global geopolitical balances.
