The head of Australia’s national intelligence office has warned that an “emerging axis” of Russia-aligned states, including China, Iran, and North Korea, presents a grave strategic threat to the West. Andrew Shearer, director-general of the Office of National Intelligence, issued the warning during a conference in Canberra on Wednesday and said the impact of such an alliance has been underestimated.
Shearer underscored just how all-encompassing dual-use support by China is for Russia. He added that such support had become crucial to extend Putin’s military operation in Ukraine. “The intensive provision of economic and diplomatic help from China is sustaining Putin’s army with operations in full swing, resulting in the death of innocent Ukrainians just as if they were supplying artillery and missiles,” he remarked.
The intelligence chief spoke to the growing need for better disruption of such nascent networks, pointing to everything from the transfer of Iranian drones to Russia to the involvement of North Korean missiles and soldiers in the conflict. “This is a profoundly troubling strategic development, and we are all grappling to catch up and implement effective measures. It stands as one of the strategic challenges of our time,” said Shearer.
Australia is also a member of the Five Eyes intelligence group, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and New Zealand’s commitment to solutions to world security challenges.
