Russian President Vladimir Putin met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing during his first foreign visit of 2026, as both leaders pushed for deeper strategic cooperation and a “multipolar world order.” The closely watched summit came just days after Donald Trump’s visit to China. Xi described the current international environment as “complex and volatile” and appeared to take a swipe at US “unilateral hegemony.” Putin and Xi held closed-door talks before broader delegation-level meetings.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has issued a sharp warning to the United States, cautioning against any potential military action targeting American naval assets in the region. The IRGC stated that it would deploy the full capabilities of what it calls the “resistance front,” signaling the possible involvement of allied forces across West Asia in the event of escalation. In strongly worded remarks, the IRGC warned that US maritime forces could face direct strikes, declaring that it is prepared to target large naval vessels if tensions intensify. These statements come amid heightened friction between Washington and Tehran, with both sides maintaining firm positions on security and strategic issues. WATCH