The Kremlin views the Axis of Upheaval as a flexible system of opportunistic cooperation designed to weaken U.S. power, expand Russia’s room for maneuver, and strengthen its position in a more competitive international order. Partnerships with capable, like-minded states help Russia offset vulnerabilities, blunt sanctions and external pressure, access critical technologies, and strengthen its ability to compete with and challenge the United States across multiple theaters. A key question for policymakers now is: How far would Russia be willing to go to support its partners, including in crisis?  
 
Join CNAS on Tuesday, July 14, from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. ET for a virtual panel discussion on this topic to mark the release of a new report, Forecasting the Future of the Axis of Upheaval: The View from Moscow, by Andrea Kendall-Taylor.

This report assesses the future of the “axis of upheaval”—the deepening relationships among Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea—from Moscow’s perspective. Kendall-Taylor argues that Russia’s support is likely to remain pragmatic and calibrated. In crises, Moscow is likely to provide its partners with political backing, economic support, intelligence sharing, technology transfers, and limited military assistance—particularly in areas such as drone warfare and regime security—while avoiding direct conflict with the United States. 
 
The discussion will be moderated by Andrea Kendall-Taylor, senior fellow and program director of the Transatlantic Security Program at CNAS, and will feature Nicole Grajewski, assistant professor at the Center for International Studies at Sciences Po, and Marcin Kaczmarski, senior lecturer in security studies at the University of Glasgow. 
 
For any questions regarding the event, please contact Jasmine Butler at jbutler@cnas.org. For media inquiries, contact Charles Horn at chorn@cnas.org.