... Position of the Chancellor on the Eve of the Visit
Friedrich Merz’s position prior to his visit to the PRC was characterized by a threefold constraint in Germany’s approach toward Beijing. First, the economic interdependence between Germany and China remained deep and structural, with bilateral trade relations and integrated supply chains continuing to underpin the German Standort. Second, the institutional framework of de-risking had already been codified at both national and European Union levels, limiting the scope for substantive revision without incurring significant political and regulatory costs. Third, EU-level regulatory mechanisms substantially circumscribed the space for purely bilateral initiatives, requiring Berlin ...
... only structure and order, but also dialogue and a constant sensitive exchange that considers all the nuances of geopolitics. Both structure and dialogue are necessary. One should never replace the other; they must always remain in harmony.
Germany and China – a constant balancing act of nuances
During Friedrich Merz's first visit to China in 2026, when both delegations sat opposite each other at the long table and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke about the importance of cooperation between the ...
... of a clash with a nuclear power, are at stake, not just in words but in deeds? To simplify the question even further, is the European Union ready to devolve from a confederation/federation into a de facto empire? The unification of disparate states for ... ... impossibility of such a development, if judged through the eyes of the post-Cold War era. Moreover, beyond the US, Russia, Ukraine, and China, there are other areas of common policy. Such a structural evolution could have a far greater impact on relations with other ...
... Sanctions as a Political Signal
For example, the eighteenth package of sanctions included legal entities in third countries that, according to EU authorities, are involved in the transportation of Russian oil. These include Bellatrix Energy and Zhu Jiang (China), the Intershipping Services (India and the UAE), Twister Shipmanagement (UAE), Admiral Group (UAE), Milavous Group (UAE), 2 Rivers PTE (UAE, including its Singapore branch), Monolink, Tarabya, Aqua Ship Management (Azerbaijan), as well as Redbird ...
... the UN Security Council, key decision-making body that could adopt legally binding resolutions. Five nations (France, Russia, China, the UK, and US) were granted permanent status and given veto power. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), separate ... ... imperial rule. The integration of Europe evolved from the Coal and Steel Community to the European Community, and then to the European Union. Aspects of a European confederation—or a supernational sovereign state such as a European Federation—appeared ...
... majority. They will still have to be spoken to on equal terms, even taking into account the US leadership in many areas.
The European Union retains decent financial, industrial, infrastructural and human capabilities. But their conversion into political ... ... well as European security, are more sensitive for the domestic audience, including in the context of the turn to the right.
China has gained colossal potential, but is in no hurry to actively use it outside the zone of its immediate interests. Its role ...
... industrial and consumer goods, as well as the largest market for Russian energy and other raw materials. At the same time, external political factors may have a growing influence on Russian-Chinese economic relations. These include the trade war between China and the United States, a possible escalation of US sanctions against Russia, and the expansion of secondary sanctions by the European Union against Chinese companies.
Russian-Chinese Dialogue: The 2024 Model. RIAC Report
The trade war, in the form of increased import duties on imported goods, has become one of the calling cards of Donald Trump's second term in office. The ...
... No. 99 / 2025
Report No. 99 / 2025
The following report focuses on the Middle Eastern policies of extra-regional actors and their transformation in changing conditions. It concentrates on studying the strategies pursued by Russia, the U.S., the EU, China and India in the Middle East. The report also examines how Middle Eastern countries perceive extra-regional actors as they aspire to build pragmatic and balanced relationships with external partners.
Extra-Regional Actors in the Middle East
, 1....
... world order after all. One thing is certain, Trump is not a wise, far-sighted strategist. And yet, he is not only bringing movement to the Ukraine conflict, he is also shaking up entrenched structures and beliefs.
The massive tariff dispute between China and the US has at least brought both parties to bilateral talks. Perhaps that is Trump's intention. What is certain, however, is that a complete decoupling from China is unrealistic. The country is too closely integrated into the global production ...
... and guardian of multilateralism, is increasingly operating not as a strategic actor, but as an arena where the interests of external players are clashing and exerting considerable pressure on the Union. This pressure comes above all from the U.S. and China, and is further exacerbated by the internal problems of the European “Standort”. In the current context, there are three possible scenarios for European Union and its development trajectories in the short and medium term.
Scenario 1: Transatlantic Mobilization
Assuming the continuation of external pressure, the EU, Germany and France—firstly—will finally decide to go forward with institutional ...
