How greater EU autonomy can boost relations with China

Macron’s overall strategy reflects the inclination for Europe to autonomously manage ties with China, independent of the United States. Amid uncertainties in US politics, Europe now hesitates to prioritise Washington’s interests over its own, signalling a noteworthy shift.

Macron has been making the visionary call for European “strategic autonomy” since 2017, and has more recently promoted the positioning of the EU as a “third superpower” alongside China and the US. While geopolitical developments validate Macron’s foresight, the concept of strategic autonomy – now integral to the EU’s geopolitical identity – still lacks tangible action.

Indeed, rallying unanimous support among member states, each with varying priorities on threats and security, poses significant hurdles. In this regard, Germany has been notably hesitant, with an apparent absence of EU leadership.

Advancing deeper EU integration by fostering a more sovereign and united bloc signals a stride towards greater federalisation to mitigate the impact of volatile geopolitics.

Building this unity is no longer a matter of debate; it is an imperative necessity. This entails developing a credible defence and other concrete measures proposed by Macron to fortify EU military capabilities. After all, “Europe is mortal. It can die,” as he said. To avert this fate, an autonomous defence is necessary for several reasons.

First, relying on the protection of another power is outdated – the EU must ensure its own security independently. Such independence would elevate the bloc’s geopolitical role and fulfil key security functions of being “credible, dissuasive [and] present”. As such, Europe need not be held hostage to fluctuating American leadership every four years.

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