WASHINGTON: The presence of Russian and North Korean leaders alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping at a massive military parade in Beijing on Wednesday drew sharp reactions from the West, with the European Union (EU) and the United States warning of an emerging challenge to the global order.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the images of President Xi standing with the leaders of Russia, Iran, and North Korea went beyond symbolism.

“These aren’t just anti-Western optics, this is a direct challenge to the international system built on rules,” she told journalists.

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In Washington, former US president Donald Trump also weighed in. On his Truth Social platform late Tuesday, Trump accused Xi, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin of conspiring against the United States.

Addressing Xi in a testy post, Trump wrote: “Give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America.”