The military deal between Russia, China, Iran, North Korea provides support in their individual struggles with the U.S and allies on the regional levels. This was done to prevent exhaustion that occurs in defending from overwhelming strength. However, It is not an ideal alliance because dependencies expose a lot of inefficiencies and the shared burden will eventually create political turmoil in their respective nations as they appeal to each other.
The biggest winner of this alliance is Russia. The biggest loser is North Korea. The biggest workhorse is China. The one with the most to lose is Iran.
Russia is the biggest winner because they set the precedent on expectations for hot war. The Russians have shown they can mobilize, and their populace are willing to die in a meat grinder. But that doesn't mean they will deploy their troops to regional conflicts. The only thing received is armament to maintain the campaign. There hard power makes them group leader, in the end they're the ones that could match the U.S.
North Korea is the biggest loser because they’ve only recently deployed spy satellites. They have been blind in a manner Russia, and China has not. They don’t have the geolocation, nor logistical abilities. Will they accept direction for accelerated development, and could they prevent a breach in their self-determination by opening corridors to this alliance. Furthermore their backyard is stacked. To be asked to hold the line for this alliance on any occasion is a bad deal.
China is the biggest workhorse. This alliance is the best thing that could happen to them. With the longest tentacles in the U.S and allied economies, they are spearheading the next generation of hybrid warfare. They have embraced this role wholeheartedly.
Iran has the most to lose. Too many of its neighbors have an incentive to weaken the state. The area is a powder keg of instability. It is the go to area for debauchery. There is an incentive for Iran’s allies to use it as a proxy to bid time. They should trust no one. It's not like they could meet at the border of Russia, China, North Korea at will.
The U.S and allies need to be careful in not playing into the hands of this military alliance. The U.S has too many bases, and too many reasons to become a target and drawn into a series of events where errors pile on.
Furthermore we should do outreach to Russia, and North Korea specifically to curtail Chinese manipulation. For they could also be put in a compromising position. China is the least trustworthy of the bunch. They are gearing up to be militarily offensive.
There inactivity in the past was due to the risk of colliding with America, and USSR. Not because they are a loving anti-war bunch. They are past that now. Any hesitation is because of inexperience, so anything they do will most likely be surprisingly savage.