Russia’s frenemy China is quietly trying to dampen Putin’s influence [Video]

The leaders of a club of countries touted by Russia and China as a counterweight to Western global power are meeting this week in Kazakhstan.

At the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to meet China’s President Xi Jinping.

During their discussion, they will reportedly seek ways to expand the organization as part of their shared mission to roll back US global power.

But despite their “no limits” partnership brokered over shared enmity toward the US and its NATO allies, there are growing differences between frenemies Putin and Xi.

Ukraine has shifted the balance of power

The leaders are in fierce competition for influence over the original members of the SCO — the Central Asian Republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

The SCO was formed as a regional security pact, but has in recent years expanded to include India, Pakistan, and Iran. Belarus, another opponent of NATO, is expected to be admitted this week.

The Central Asian republics …