Russia celebrated the 80th anniversary of its victory in the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War with a grand Victory Day military parade in Moscow. The event underscored the strengthening ties between Russia and nations across the Global South, most notably with the presence of President Xi Jinping of China as the main guest.
President Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin met at the Kremlin, exchanging views on bilateral relations and key global and regional issues. The leaders agreed to enhance strategic coordination and advance stable, high-quality China-Russia relations. They witnessed the signing of over 20 cooperation agreements spanning various fields, signaling a commitment to deepening collaboration.
The parade also saw the participation of leaders from several countries, including Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, and Republic of Srpska President Milorad Dodik. Despite pressures and restrictive measures from Western nations, these leaders attended the celebration, emphasizing their pursuit of balanced foreign policies and commitment to multilateralism.
Central Asian nations such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan were represented, illustrating their multi-vector foreign policies aimed at maintaining good relations with all key international actors.
The presence of Global South leaders at the Victory Day parade highlights a shared aspiration for a fairer international order where peace and development are priorities. The event serves as a platform for nations to express their commitment to multilateralism and international cooperation.
China, being a significant partner for Russia, played a prominent role in the celebrations. The two countries have reached record-high bilateral trade values, with their two-way trade exceeding $244 billion last year. President Xi’s meeting with President Putin provided an opportunity to further strengthen their relations and align more closely in shaping a fairer multilateral world order.
This year’s Victory Day parade not only commemorated past triumphs but also showcased emerging global partnerships. Russia’s closer ties with China and other Global South nations reflect a drive to reshape the international system into one that is more balanced and less dominated by traditional Western powers.
