For more than four months, Europe has been one of US President Donald Trump’s favourite punchbags, absorbing bruising blows on trade, security and social issues.
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Over the same period, the European Union has held out an olive branch to Beijing, seeking concessions on economic matters in exchange for better political ties. The consensus now in Brussels is that China has chosen not to grab it.
Sandwiched between two uncompromising superpowers, a growing number of European leaders are pushing for Europe to become a more self-reliant force. They want the bloc to free itself from dangerous dependencies on the US for defence and technology, on China for raw materials and cleantech goods, and on Russia for energy.
“A new international order will emerge in this decade,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said last week.
“If we do not want to simply accept the consequences this will have for Europe and the world, we must shape this new order. History does not forgive either dithering or delaying. Our mission is European independence.”
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French President Emmanuel Macron – the biggest champion of strategic autonomy – agreed.