1、 EGMONT Royal Institute for International Relations No.Date No.156 March 2022 Putin Is Creating the Multipolar World He(Thought He)Wanted Sven Biscop,Bart Dessein&Jasper RoctusUp until the Russian invasion of Ukraine,Russias and Chinas worsening relations with the European Union and the United State
2、s meant that the world order was at risk of falling apart into two rival blocs,as during the Cold War:Europeans and Americans against Russians and Chinese.1 Since 24 February 2022,that is not so clear anymore.The more Russia escalates the violence in Ukraine,but also the strategic anxiety(by putting
3、 its nuclear forces on alert),the more difficult it becomes for other powers to stay completely aloof,let alone to simply align with Russia.The more EU and US sanctions reverberate throughout the global economy,the more it becomes impossible for other powers to avoid going at least partially along.C
4、hina in particular has in fact already made a defining choice.THE KINGDOM IN THE MIDDLE Chinas instinct when other powers go to war is to avoid taking any explicit stance.2 When Russia is involved,China will not always openly support it,but it will hardly ever openly go against it(and vice versa).3
