White House national security communications adviser John Kirby weighed in on images of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping embracing on Friday in Beijing.
“That’s good for them,” Kirby told reporters when asked about a reaction to hug between the two leaders.
Kirby said it was “no surprise” that Xi and Putin “continue to try to develop this burgeoning relationship,” but noted that the two have not worked together for a long time and that officials in both governments are “not necessarily that confident” of one another. from the other. other.
“What they have in common is a desire to challenge the rules-based international order, to challenge the network of alliances and partnerships that the United States enjoys,” Kirby said, adding “and to try to look for ways to enhance each other’s national security.” others”. interests too.”
Xi welcomed Putin to a summit this week in China, in the midst of Russia’s ongoing war with Ukraine – and at a time when efforts to expand economic and military ties between Moscow and Beijing have exacerbated tensions with the Western.
Putin said his talks with Xi were “substantive” as he concluded the two-day trip, according to the Associated Press. China claimed a neutral position in Moscow’s war with Ukraine but continued to support Russia with non-lethal assistance.
Kirby said on Friday that the US was not “necessarily surprised” by the Putin-Xi meeting, but that the administration was nevertheless “concerned” and “closely watching” the developing relationship between the two leaders.
“I’m not good at talking about personal human bodily affection one way or another, so I think I’ll leave it to these two gentlemen to talk about why they thought it was okay to hug each other,” Kirby said when pressed about the headlines from hugs.
“I will just say that we take seriously the challenges that both countries pose,” he added. “And we take this growing relationship between the two seriously.”
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
