President Joe Biden has approved a new national security memorandum aimed at guiding the incoming Trump administration in countering the growing cooperation among China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia, as announced by the White House. The guidance, developed by Biden administration officials over the summer, is intended to assist the next administration in formulating its strategy from day one to address the strengthening relationships among the United States' key adversaries and competitors.
The classified memorandum, not for public release due to its sensitive nature, includes four main recommendations. These recommendations focus on enhancing interagency cooperation within the U.S. government, expediting the sharing of information with allies regarding the four adversaries, optimizing the use of sanctions and economic tools, and fortifying readiness to manage simultaneous crises involving these adversaries.
Concerns about collaboration among China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia have long been on the U.S.'s radar, with coordination among these countries intensifying following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Notably, Russia has turned to Iran for drones and missiles, while North Korea has received support from Russia in the form of fuel and funding to enhance its manufacturing and military capabilities.
Furthermore, China and Russia have been engaging in military technical cooperation, with China providing dual-use components to support Russia's military industrial base. The two nations have also been collaborating on joint patrols in the Arctic region. Russia has reciprocated by assisting Iran in bolstering its missile defense and space technology, while de facto acknowledging North Korea as a nuclear weapon state.
Despite differing worldviews between Biden and President-elect Donald Trump, officials from both administrations have been coordinating on national security matters during the transition period.
