Moscow Looks to the East

Beijing is eager to tap into the Arctic's abundant resources and take advantage of shipping lanes that will open as sea ice recedes. But it will need to muscle into the region first.

For Moscow and Beijing, the more Washington tries to squeeze them, the smaller their differences with each other become.

Washington is leaning on India and other countries around the globe to snub Russian arms in favor of U.S. weaponry. The United States, however, would press New Delhi at its peril.

As Washington tries to influence Moscow's behavior, the Kremlin is turning away from the West more and more.

The United States imposed punishing sanctions on Iran earlier in the month, but now it's starting to pursue a much bigger adversary -- Russia -- by taking aim at Moscow's defense and energy customers around the globe.

Shinzo Abe is seeking to build momentum toward resolving a decadeslong territorial dispute with Moscow. But circumstances, including the Japanese leader's own political troubles, don't bode well for a breakthrough.

Beijing is investing heavily in Central Asia, increasing its influence through trade and infrastructure. So far, its interests largely complement the Kremlin's, but tensions could arise if the balance of power tips too far away from Moscow.