Centuries of shared identity, security integration and cultural allegiance bind these nations irreversibly to the US strategic architecture
This recalcitrance reflects not a fleeting opportunism but an unyielding anchor: centuries of shared identity, security integration and cultural allegiance bind these nations irreversibly to Washington’s strategic architecture.
The charm offensive, framed as a shield against American pressure, secured no meaningful political alignment. Why? Economic pragmatism is being confronted with an immovable priority: foundational security.
Even with EU-China trade worth around US$1 trillion and as Berlin brokers climate deals with Beijing, allies instinctively safeguard US intelligence-sharing pacts and defence commitments. Their discontent fuels diplomatic appeals for restraint, never support for China-led confrontation. The gap between Beijing’s global ambition and geopolitical reality remains unbridgeable.
The Europe-China trade relationship: deficits, disputes and de-risking
