• North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will attend Beijing’s Sept. 3 military parade, alongside Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping.
• The event marks a symbolic win for Xi, signaling his leverage over rivals amid global tensions.
• It comes as Donald Trump signals fresh interest in reviving talks with Pyongyang.

BEIJING, China (TDR) — The sight of Kim Jong Un standing shoulder to shoulder with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping at the heart of Beijing will be more than a striking photo-op. It is also a message of shifting power, where Beijing is flexing its role as the convener of leaders who have unsettled the West.

A Calculated Diplomatic Display

The September 3 parade will commemorate Japan’s surrender in World War II, yet Xi has transformed it into a geopolitical statement. Analysts note this is more than a military showcase — it is a carefully staged moment of diplomatic symbolism.

For Xi, inviting both Putin and Kim signals that China can pull rivals together even as Washington struggles to secure breakthroughs. For Kim, whose economy remains dependent on China for nearly 90% of its food imports, the invitation offers rare legitimacy.

Trump Eyes a Return to Pyongyang Talks

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The timing dovetails with Donald Trump’s renewed interest in reviving dialogue with North Korea. Meeting this week with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, Trump remarked he would “look forward” to another encounter with Kim.

Trump’s prior summits with Kim in 2018 and 2019 ended without curbing Pyongyang’s weapons program, though they temporarily shifted global attention. Yet his openness to fresh talks suggests Xi’s leverage may extend to brokering channels between Washington and Pyongyang.

Putin’s Role in Beijing

Putin’s presence underscores China’s careful balancing act. Despite claims of neutrality, Beijing has been accused of providing components that support Russia’s war effort. Xi’s hosting of Putin now, while Western sanctions mount, represents a calibrated defiance of Washington’s attempts to isolate Moscow.

Putin, meanwhile, benefits by projecting that he is not friendless on the world stage. For Kim, standing next to Putin and Xi bolsters his claim to relevance beyond his nuclear arsenal.

Why Kim’s Presence Matters

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Kim’s attendance is symbolically seismic. No North Korean leader has appeared at a Chinese military parade since 1959. His surprise decision to attend signals that ties between Pyongyang and Beijing, once thought frayed as Kim courted Moscow, remain resilient.

China provides not only food but critical energy and economic lifelines. This reliance ensures that Beijing retains leverage, even as Kim experiments with closer ties to Russia.

Xi’s Leverage Ahead of Trump Meeting

The White House has suggested Trump could meet Xi in late October during a regional trip. With both Putin and Kim now on his stage, Xi enters those talks in a stronger position. He can claim to have insights into both leaders’ thinking — intelligence the U.S. may lack.

That leverage could prove critical as Trump seeks relief from tariffs and navigates questions over TikTok’s sale, while pressing for progress on Ukraine. Xi’s role as the potential bridge between Moscow, Pyongyang, and Washington elevates his diplomatic stature.

A Four-Way Summit?

The tantalizing speculation now centers on whether Xi, Putin, Kim, and Trump could meet together. While unlikely, the symbolism of such an encounter would reshape geopolitics. For Xi, engineering such a summit would be the crowning proof of China’s ability to shape outcomes once dominated by Washington.

For Trump, the prospect of a third meeting with Kim offers the allure of securing a breakthrough where prior administrations failed. For Kim, the photo alone would legitimize his leadership. For Putin, it would signal resilience amid Western ostracism.

The Bigger Picture

The parade will not only showcase China’s military might but will also broadcast Xi’s ambition to be seen as the power broker capable of corralling pariah leaders into a diplomatic chorus. With tariffs unresolved, Ukraine aflame, and North Korea still nuclear-armed, Beijing is staging itself as the indispensable middleman.

Could Xi Jinping now hold the keys to diplomacy between Washington, Moscow, and Pyongyang — and will Donald Trump seize that moment?

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