Podcast Summary: The Morning Edition
Episode: The ‘axis of upheaval’ that's forming against the West
Date: April 22, 2026
Host: Samantha Selinger-Morris
Guest: Peter Harcher, International and Political Editor, The Age and Sydney Morning Herald
Overview
This episode explores the emergence and increasing cooperation of a new anti-Western alliance informally known as "KRINKS"—China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Peter Harcher discusses the practical, military, and economic collaboration among these nations, why this coalition is only now attracting attention, and the global response as Western alliances face new challenges. The conversation highlights the revival of bloc warfare dynamics reminiscent of the Cold War, their strategic threats, and the way countries like Japan, Germany, and Australia are responding.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Origins and Rise of KRINKS
- KRINKS Defined: An acronym for China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea—initially just a convenient grouping of the West’s main adversaries (01:37).
- Why Discuss KRINKS Now: The grouping has transitioned from a conceptual adversarial bloc to an active, mutually supportive coalition—especially evident on battlefields in Ukraine (supporting Russia) and in regional conflicts involving Iran (02:05).
- Quote (Peter Harcher, 02:26):
“It’s more not anymore just an acronym or a random bunch of names. It’s a battlefield coalition where four countries come together to support each other in wars against Western interests.”
2. China’s Deepening Support for Iran
- Material Support:
- Supplying thousands of tons of solid-fuel missile propellant precursors, helping Iran assemble potentially thousands of ballistic missiles despite international sanctions (03:02-03:47).
- Granting Iran access to China’s military-grade Beidou GPS and advanced satellite systems, enhancing Iranian ability to target missiles and drones, including successful attacks on U.S. assets (03:49-05:28).
- Economic Support:
- China purchases around 90% of Iran’s oil, providing about one-third to one-half of Iranian government revenue, allowing Iran to withstand economic pressures and sanctions (05:28-05:47).
- Quote (Peter Harcher, 05:47):
“Without that sale of sanctioned oil to China, the Iranian government would have collapsed long ago.”
3. North Korean and Russian Contributions
- North Korea:
- Open nuclear threats in support of Iran, stating readiness to retaliate against Israel if Iran is attacked with nuclear weapons (05:52-06:38).
- Long-term missile technology transfers, with North Korean engineers helping Iran improve missile range, targeting, and lethality (06:38-07:03).
- Russia:
- Supported directly by all three others in Ukraine, with battlefield presence evidenced by, for example, 15,000 North Korean soldiers fighting for Russia (07:17-08:35).
- Both North Korea and Russia benefit economically from Chinese oil purchases, keeping their regimes solvent (07:17-07:55).
- Quote (Peter Harcher, 08:35):
“If there were any doubt anymore that the two theaters, the European Theater and the Indo Pacific Theater were actually one and the same, they were dispelled with that battlefield evidence.”
4. The “Coming Out” of the Bloc
- Symbolic Gathering:
- In September, leaders of all four KRINKS countries met in Beijing, a clear signal of their consolidated front (08:47).
- Influence Operations:
- Former Australian Premiers Dan Andrews and Bob Carr attended, criticized for serving as “useful idiots” (Peter Harcher), showing tacit support or naivete about the bloc’s intentions—even as informed former leaders (08:47-11:16).
- Quote (Peter Harcher, 09:36):
“They’ve both emerged as apologists for the Chinese Communist Party.”
- On the broader issue: “Was it naive? Was it conniving? Was it just a gesture of friendship? I don’t know, but it was foolish.” (11:13)
5. Why the Bloc Remains Under the Radar
- Unfolding Threat:
- This axis is a new and rapidly evolving coalition, not widely tracked in public or media until now (11:50-12:25).
- Quoted Sources: Lavinna Lee (University of Sydney) calls it “alarming”, and American scholars call it an “axis of upheaval” and a “generational challenge” (11:16-11:50).
- Geostrategic Impact:
- KRINKS nations cover a vast Eurasian zone, enabling them to dominate the “heartland” of conventional strategic theory, with adjacent land connectivity across continents (11:50-13:16).
- Quote (Peter Harcher, 13:16):
“You can’t pick your enemy. You’re getting all four, whether you like it or not.”
6. Persistence of the Axis and Western Response
- Enduring Structure:
- The KRINKS alliance is not a one-off convening—it is a “structural system” likely to persist and deepen even if specific conflicts subside (13:17-14:22).
- Quote (Peter Harcher, 14:22):
“It’s not a one-off, it’s a package deal.”
- Western Alignment Shifting:
- Japan: Doubling defense spending, selling major weapons abroad for the first time since WWII, including new deals with Australia (14:22-17:57).
- Germany: Abandoning its pacifist stance, increasing defense spending, looking to France’s nuclear umbrella, starting new national service pilot programs (17:46).
- Australia: Expanding defense cooperation, signing mutual access to bases with Japan, new treaties with Papua New Guinea and Indonesia, increasing defense spending to 3% of GDP—all with China as the “unspoken” driver in strategic planning (18:21-19:55).
- Quote (Peter Harcher, 18:21):
“All the defence planning is done with China in mind… if you’re preparing for confrontations with China, you have to be prepared for them to be cooperating with Russia, Iran and North Korea as well.”
7. Return to Bloc Warfare and Its Significance
- Historical Parallels:
- Harcher likens the current moment to the Cold War, emphasizing the re-emergence of bloc rivalry as the U.S.-led alliance weakens and adversaries unite (20:05-20:51).
- Quote (Peter Harcher, 21:11):
“It absolutely is. It’s the emergence of bloc confrontation in the world once more. It’s not great the trend in which the world is heading, but it’s real.”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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The Shift from Acronym to Alliance:
“It’s a battlefield coalition where four countries come together to support each other in wars against Western interests.” – Peter Harcher (02:26)
-
On Help to Iran:
“Without that sale of sanctioned oil to China, the Iranian government would have collapsed long ago.” – Peter Harcher (05:47)
-
North Korean Nuclear Support:
“The Iranians have said that if Israel should attack Iran with a nuclear weapon, then the North Koreans would … fire nuclear weapons into Israel. So that’s pretty spicy, to say the least.” – Peter Harcher (06:16)
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On the Bloc’s Strategic Depth:
“You can’t pick your enemy. You’re getting all four, whether you like it or not.” – Peter Harcher (13:16)
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On Western Realignment:
“Japan is now selling weaponry … Australia is buying $10 billion worth of frigates … It helps diversify our supplies of military hardware. Essentially this says we can’t rely on the US.” – Peter Harcher (15:25)
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On the ‘Box Set’ of Adversaries:
“If you’re preparing for confrontations with China, you have to be prepared for them to be cooperating with Russia, Iran and North Korea as well. The box set, the box of nasty tricks.” – Peter Harcher (19:36)
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On the New Era:
“It’s not great the trend in which the world is heading, but it’s real.” – Peter Harcher (21:11)
Timestamps for Major Segments
- KRINKS defined and current relevance – 01:24–02:52
- China’s practical/strategic support to Iran – 03:02–05:47
- North Korean and Russian cooperation – 05:52–08:47
- Symbolic “coming out” of the bloc, influence in Australia – 08:47–11:16
- Why KRINKS remains obscure, strategic geography – 11:16–13:17
- The ongoing, structural nature of the alliance – 13:17–14:22
- Japan and Germany’s new foreign/military policy, implications for Australia – 14:22–19:55
- Return to bloc warfare, historic context – 20:05–21:11
Tone and Approach
The conversation is direct, informative, and urgent, occasionally dryly humorous (“that’s pretty spicy, to say the least”), but always rooted in the gravity of the subject. The tone underlines the profound seriousness of this geopolitical shift, signaling a historic inflection point and urging attention to a threat that has largely remained under-discussed in public discourse.
For listeners and readers, this episode provides an accessible primer on the emergence of a new anti-Western bloc, how it operates in practice, and why its rise carries both historical echoes and urgent strategic implications for Australia and its allies.