Biden has approved a classified national security memorandum aimed at guiding the incoming Trump administration in countering deepening ties among China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia, the White House announced Wednesday. Despite sharp differences in worldview, Biden and Trump administration officials have reportedly sought to coordinate on key national security issues during the transition.
The memorandum, developed over the summer, outlines strategies to address the increasing coordination between the four nations, which the U.S. has long regarded as significant adversaries. According to two senior administration officials, the document offers a framework for the next administration to address these challenges from Day 1. Due to its sensitive content, the memorandum will not be made public.
The memo includes four key recommendations: enhancing interagency cooperation within the U.S. government, accelerating intelligence sharing with allies about the four adversaries, optimizing the use of sanctions and other economic tools, and strengthening preparations for managing simultaneous crises involving these nations.
The officials emphasized that cooperation among the four countries has intensified since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. They pointed to specific examples, including Russia’s reliance on Iran for drones and missiles, artillery and troop support from North Korea, and dual-use components from China that sustain Russia’s military-industrial base.
In return, Russia has bolstered its partners: providing fighter jets and missile defense assistance to Iran, fuel and financial aid to North Korea, and military technical expertise to China. Russia has also “de facto accepted North Korea as a nuclear weapon state,” one official noted. Meanwhile, China and Russia continue to deepen military cooperation, including conducting joint patrols in the Arctic region.
One senior official stressed that the memo is not intended to constrain the incoming administration but to provide a foundation for addressing some of the most complex foreign policy challenges ahead.
“This document is about building capacity,” the official said, emphasizing that it offers options rather than prescribing specific policies.
