The full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia risks escalating into a Third World War, which may be taken advantage of by North Korea, Iran, and China.
In a column for Foreign Affairs, historian Michael Kimmage and non-proliferation expert Hanna Nott noted that Western countries, fearing an escalation of the conflict, are limiting their actions, particularly regarding arms supplies that could be used on Russian territory. This caution has signaled to others that potential allies of Russia might use the war in Ukraine as a training ground.
Yes, there are rumors that Chinese military forces are actively studying Western technology, such as drones and HIMARS, to prepare for a possible war over Taiwan. Iran, for its part, is focusing on understanding the Western technologies used in Ukraine for domestic production.
In their column, Kimmage and Nott emphasize that Europe, which has long avoided direct conflict on its continent, is limiting itself to economic sanctions and supplying arms to Ukraine, but is not sending its troops to the front lines. In their view, this could signal to Russia and its allies that the West is not prepared for full-scale intervention, thereby encouraging more aggressive actions.
Nevertheless, analysts point out that the involvement of Iran, China, and North Korea in the conflict does not guarantee Russia victory. Cooperation between Moscow and these countries could come at a high cost.
Source: foreignaffairs.