China, Russia Eye Iran Conflict to Shift US Influence
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- China leverages two decades of post‑9/11 growth to deepen its Middle East influence while the United States is tied up in Iran.
- Russia spends tens of billions annually on its Ukraine war and sees the Iran conflict as a new front to sap U.S. resources.
- United States has backed Kyiv since the full‑scale invasion in February 2022, tying down resources that could otherwise counter Iran’s aggression.
- Iran shut the Hormuz Strait, halting Indian cargo flows and raising the stakes for global trade amid the conflict.
Why it matters: Russia and China gain strategic footholds; the United States loses billions in defense spending and sees its regional alliances fray, undermining its global order over the next year.
