Head of Russian Security Council arrives in China to discuss international, regional security

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - The Russian Security Council said its head Sergey Shoygu arrived in China on Sunday to discuss the situation in international and regional security.

Shoygu plans to meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the press service of the council said in a statement

"On Feb. 1, the Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Sergey Shoygu, arrived in the People's Republic of China to hold negotiations with a member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi," the statement said.

It noted that during the meeting, the two officials "will discuss the changed situation in the field of international and regional security."

Shoygu’s visit came amid heightened US-Iran tensions, including recent escalatory moves linked to increased American military deployments in the Middle East and Iran’s announcement of upcoming joint naval exercises with China and Russia in the northern Indian Ocean in mid-February.

On Tuesday, Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov held a video call with his Chinese counterpart, Dong Jun. The two discussed the need to analyze developments in Iran, where the US struck Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025, and in Venezuela, where a US military operation on Jan. 3 resulted in the capture and extradition of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Belousov and Dong agreed to take "relevant actions" in response.

On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin met in the Kremlin with Iran’s Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani.

In January 2025, Russia and Iran signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement, which includes a mutual military assistance clause in case either is attacked. Iran has a similar treaty with China, signed in 2021.