After Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the sanctions that followed, it began seeking closer ties with China. Recent headlines of Russia requesting military aid from the country have raised suspicions a military and economic alliance may be forming among the world's two most powerful autocracies to counter Western power.

In this episode, Dan speaks with Andrew Small of the German Marshall Fund on how Sino-Russian relations have changed over the past decade, what role China could play in the current conflict in Ukraine, and how this fits into China's larger ambitions for its role as a global power. 

You can listen to the full episode via the player below, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or other podcast players.

Andrew's 2014 paper, Ukraine, Russia, and the China Option: The Geostrategic Risks Facing Western Policyprovides some additional context for this episode.