• China hosted defense ministers from Iran and Russia in Qingdao amid rising global tensions.
• The meeting occurs against the backdrop of war in the Middle East and NATO's military spending increase.
• Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun emphasized the need for cooperation against unilateralism.
• Russia's Defence Minister highlighted worsening geopolitical tensions globally.
• China maintains a neutral stance in Russia's war with Ukraine while supporting Iran diplomatically.

China hosted defense ministers from Iran and Russia for a meeting in Qingdao on Thursday, coinciding with rising global tensions and a NATO summit in Europe that agreed to boost military spending. The meeting aimed to strengthen ties within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which China promotes as a counterweight to Western power blocs. The gathering takes place after a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran, following 12 days of violent conflict, according to Channel News Asia, TRT Global, and Dawn.

The Qingdao meeting also occurs one day after NATO leaders in The Hague responded to U.S. pressure by agreeing to increase defense budgets significantly. Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun described the assembly as necessary in a world beset by "chaos and instability," urging members to take collective action to promote peaceful development, according to Channel News Asia and India Times.

In a grim assessment, Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov highlighted the worsening geopolitical tensions globally, signaling an ongoing struggle in the international landscape. He indicated that "the current military and political situation... shows signs of further deterioration," referencing the high stakes facing member countries, as reported by Dawn and India Times.

Discussions around the situation involving Israel and Iran are likely to have been a focal point. While Beijing supports Tehran diplomatically, experts like James Char suggest that actual military support from China is unlikely, as it could provoke tensions with both Israel and the United States. Andrea Ghiselli cautioned that any discussions on weapon supplies to Iran would be deemed provocative, reflecting China's cautious approach given its desire to stabilize relations with the U.S., according to Channel News Asia, TRT Global, and Dawn.

India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, present at the meeting, remarked that SCO members should "collectively aspire" to meet their people's aspirations in a rapidly transforming world, marking a potential future direction for the organization amid ongoing geopolitical shifts, according to Dawn and India Times.