‘China Needs Us More’: Trump Shrugs Off Threat From Russia-China Ties After Xi-Putin Meet

Last Updated:September 03, 2025, 05:25 IST

Putin’s growing engagement with Xi is being closely watched by Western governments, particularly as the war in Ukraine continues without resolution.

Putin will remain in China to attend the ‘Victory Day’ military parade on Wednesday (AP photo)

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday dismissed growing concerns over deepening ties between Russia and China, stating that he maintains strong personal relationships with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. His comments came during a press briefing where he was asked about the potential threat posed by the strengthening alliance between the two nations and their global allies.

Trump firmly rejected the idea that closer relations between Beijing and Moscow pose a strategic threat to the US. When asked if he believed China and its partners were attempting to form an international coalition to challenge US influence, Trump responded, “No. Not at all. China needs us."

He continued, “I have a very good relationship with President Xi, as you know. But China needs us much more than we need them. I don’t see that at all."

The questions come as Beijing hosts several world leaders for high-level diplomatic events. Chinese President Xi Jinping presided over the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Beijing. The event has drawn notable attendees including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Following the summit, Putin will remain in China to attend the ‘Victory Day’ military parade on Wednesday, where he will be joined by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The parade is seen as a prominent display of China’s military power on the global stage.

Putin’s growing engagement with Xi is being closely watched by Western governments, particularly as the war in Ukraine continues without resolution. Putin has reportedly briefed some of his counterparts at the SCO summit on his August 15 meeting with President Trump in Alaska.

Earlier in the day, during a call-in interview on The Scott Jennings Radio Show, Trump again downplayed the Russia-China dynamic, saying he is “not concerned at all" about an “axis" forming against the US.

He also took the opportunity to express disappointment with President Putin over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. “I am very disappointed in President Putin, I can say that, and we will be doing something to help people live," Trump said, though he did not elaborate on any specific actions under consideration.

Location :

Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published:

September 03, 2025, 05:25 IST

News world ‘China Needs Us More’: Trump Shrugs Off Threat From Russia-China Ties After Xi-Putin Meet

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