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Unpacking the CRINK Axis

The CSIS Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department and the Korea Chair held a discussion unpacking the growing ties among China, Russia, Iran and North Korea, which some have called a CRINK axis or an “Axis of Upheaval.”

Transcript — October 28, 2025

CRINK Security Ties: Growing Cooperation, Anchored by China and Russia

This brief utilizes data to explore the strengths and limits of security cooperation among China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (CRINK), with a focus on lessons learned from Russia’s war in Ukraine and Iran’s conflicts in the Middle East.

Brief by Bonny Lin, Brian Hart, Leon Li, Hugh Grant-Chapman, Truly Tinsley, and Feifei Hung — September 30, 2025

CRINK Diplomatic Ties: A Broader Tilt Toward the Global South

Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine and the 2025 Iran-Israel war have raised questions about deepening cooperation between China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (CRINK). Mona Yacoubian and Briana Winslow examine this relationship and the veracity of these assumptions.

Brief by Mona Yacoubian and Briana Winslow — September 26, 2025

Adversaries and the Future of Competition

China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea have increased security cooperation in arms sales, military exercises, and the industrial base, though there are limits. Bilateral cooperation is likely to increase in the future, which has major implications for the future of warfare.

Commentary by Seth G. Jones — September 16, 2025

Damage to Iran’s Nuclear Program—Can It Rebuild?

U.S. and Israeli strikes imposed significant damage on Iran’s nuclear sites but failed to eliminate its program. The fate of Tehran’s nuclear ambitions now rests on a political decision, creating a window for diplomacy.

Commentary by Joseph Rodgers, Heather Williams, and Joseph S. Bermudez Jr. — August 6, 2025