Player or playground? Europe sidelined again as US, China cut deals on its soil

While the Europeans were not at the table in Madrid, there is a sense that they were most definitely on the menu

“Spanish foreign policy works for dialogue and agreement. Honoured by the trust of both in choosing Madrid,” Albares wrote on social media, in a post accompanied by separate smiling pictures with Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

The continent is reeling from a summer in which it was bullied by the US and its demands were ignored by China.

“It’s striking that Washington and Beijing are ironing out their trade disputes on European soil, while Europe itself is largely sidelined,” Sander Tordoir, chief economist at the Centre for European Reform, said.

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