West-aligned still trumps democratic. The West generally doesn't have a problem with authoritarianism but rather with competition or obstruction of their economic goals. When the opposite is true they will gladly turn a blind eye to any number of atrocities.

See here: Saudi-Arabia, Oman, UAE, Philippines, Egypt (military junta), Turkey, etc.

If being friendly with an authoritarian state yields economic or military geographical advantage then that overrides any ideological hang-ups involved.