Russia and China raised eyebrows across the world earlier this month with the announcement of a combined vision for international relations anchored in the idea of helping each other in disputes, particularly with the United States and its allies.

On Feb. 4, the first day of the controversial Beijing Winter Olympics, Chinese General Secretary Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin issued the joint statement forecasting a “transformation of the global governance architecture and world order.” Just weeks later, the strength of that resolve was tested when Putin launched what appears to be an invasion of Ukraine.