CRINK

CRINK is an acronym that stands for the authoritarian states China, Russia, Iran and North Korea. It was coined for the 2023 Halifax International Security Forum by its president Peter Van Praagh.^[1][2][3][4]

The CRINK states support each other with economic, military and diplomatic resources.^[4] Collectively and individually, the CRINKs are globally known for their authoritarian leadership, their opposition to the West^[2] and involvement in military conflicts.^[5] The CRINKs have no formal alliance but are seemingly united by common interests akin to the motto "the enemy of my enemy is my friend."^[6]

Origin

At the 2023 Halifax International Security Forum on November 17, 2023, Van Praagh introduced the term during his opening remarks:^[7]

Isolating Russia from the international community brought the other authoritarians to Putin's aid. Now China and Russia and Iran and North Korea, we are calling them the CRINKs, are working to dismantle the global order.

One of the forum's plenary sessions was titled "Victory in Ukraine = Message to the CRINKs"^[3] and another "Never Mind the BRICS, Here's the CRINKs".^[8]

Usage

After the 2023 Forum, the term CRINK and its introduction during the event was picked up by international media outlets.^[1][4][9] According to Politico, a wide range of CRINK-related concerns were shared by Forum participants and remained a central theme throughout the event.^[3][10]

The CRINKs are often referred to as the new autocratic "axis of evil", President Bush's 2002 phrase referring to Iran, Iraq and North Korea.^[2][11][12]

The term is widely used in discussions of rising anti-Western sentiment.^[13]

It has also been mentioned in reporting on the Russian invasion of Ukraine^[4] and the Middle Eastern crisis.^[2]

The term CRINK is used in multiple languages and has been adopted internationally by news outlets in Brazil,^[14] Chile,^[15] Germany,^[16] France,^[17] Italy,^[18] Poland,^[19] Switzerland,^[20] Spain,^[21] and Belgium.^[22]

See also

• Axis of Upheaval