Putin: Western Powers are Building a New "Axis"

The Russian news agency Interfax reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a televised interview broadcast today, Sunday, stated that Russia and China are not working to establish a military alliance, emphasizing that military cooperation between the two countries is characterized by transparency. He added that Western powers are forming a new "axis" that somewhat resembles the alliance of Germany and Japan during World War II. He said, "We are not forming any military alliance with China. Yes, we have cooperation in military-technical interaction. We do not hide this." Putin continued, "For this reason, Western analysts talk about the West beginning to form a new axis similar to what was created in the 1930s by the fascist regimes in Germany, Italy, and militaristic Japan," referring to a time when Japan pursued a military dominance ideology.