Shuffling the pack of rivals, partners and adversariesOne of the criticisms Donald Trump’s National Security Strategy makes of Europe is about the war in Ukraine and the Europeans’ lack of enthusiasm for making peace with Vladimir Putin. Military deterrence is only effective as such if it is part of a broader diplomatic strategy but where Russia is concerned, Europe has abandoned direct diplomacy. Europe should also think again about its policy towards China, which has been subordinate to its relationship with Washington since 2019. This was when the EU identified China as a partner for co-operation, an economic competitor and a systemic rival. This was the logic behind the EU’s use of national security as a justification for following Washington’s lead in restricting the sale of high-end technology to China, including semiconductor equipment.

Source: The Irish Times December 09, 2025 17:55 UTC