Analysis: As North Korea, Iran and China support Russia’s war, is a ‘new axis’ emerging? | CNN

U.S. fears growing coordination between anti-West countries is creating a broader, urgent security threat.

Russia , China , Iran and North Korea have been accused of arming Russia 's war machine with weapons.

China has also expanded military ties with Russia , while Iran has been supplying Russian drones.

North Korea’s military partnership with Russia links the grinding, hot conflict in Europe to an especially tense period in the Cold War .

China is by far the most powerful player in the grouping, the lead trade partner for Russia , North Korea and Iran .

Beijing has ramped up efforts to challenge US global leadership and shape an international order that favors China and other autocracies.

China has repeatedly insisted its relationship with Russia is one of “non-alliance, non-confrontation and not targeting any third party”.

For one, it’s possible that “some more moderate behavior” could be incentivized on the part of China , which could dial down this potential, according to Sydney Seiler , a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington . But as the optics stand today “the risk is sufficiently present” that the US could face a future conflagration involves multiple of these countries, he said. CNN ’s Brad Lendon , Yoonjung Seo , and Mike Valerio contributed to this report..