A Sovereign Europe ... and China
Reducing strategic dependencies vis-à-vis Beijing, especially in the realm of technology, is easier said than conceptualized, let alone put in practice.
“It’s Presumptuous to Talk about European Sovereignty”
What should the EU’s role in the world be? It should aim for confident realism, argues Christoph Heusgen, who will take over the leadership of the Munich Security Conference at the close of this year’s MSC in February.
Time for Hard Choices on Defense
EU strategic sovereignty in defense remains a distant goal. Member states are desperately clinging to their national sovereignty—but that’s the wrong approach.
In Search of an Indo-Pacific Role
The European relationship with much of Asia is rapidly evolving, largely as a result of changing relations with Beijing. The EU faces the danger of getting caught between the United States and China.
Global Gateway
To successfully answer the challenge of China’s Belt and Road Initiative with its new connectivity strategy, the EU needs to form a clearer picture of where and how the BRI is succeeding.
The EU and India: A Key Partnership in the Making
Ties between the EU and India have become closer in recent years, as their interests increasingly align and Europe increasingly recognizes India’s geopolitical role in the Indo-Pacific.
Why Europe’s Enhanced Military Presence in the Indo-Pacific Is an Asset
Better coordination is needed if Europeans are to contribute to the region’s security and defense and be seen as serious partners by the countries there.
Middle-Power Multilateralism Needed
As China continues its military expansion and Washington divides the Indo-Pacific into democratic friends and autocratic foes, the EU and ASEAN are the only forces that can credibly jump to the rescue of multilateralism and rules-based trade.
In Search of the Next Partner
French President Emmanuel Macron has banked on Franco-German cooperation, an approach that finally proved successful in 2020. With Angela Merkel leaving the scene, he needs to build bridges to her potential successors, and quickly.
The Crisis Manager Departs
Angela Merkel had the advantage that during her 16 years at the helm, Germany was spared the economic and political upheaval many of its neighbors experienced, making her brokering EU leadership possible. Her successors may not be so lucky.
Great Expectations (II): Clearing the Air. A View from Poland
Germany’s approach to relations with Poland in recent years has been characterized by caution. A new government in Berlin that includes the Greens could shake things up, ultimately for the better.
Great Expectations (I): Time for a Südpolitik. A View from Spain
Many in Madrid hope that a post-Merkel government will accept that a monetary union is impossible without a fiscal union. In this and other areas, paying more attention to Spain would be a chance to advance the EU.