The BRICS group wrapped up its two-day leaders’ summit in Rio de Janeiro on Monday. The summit’s final communique is a 16,000-word doorstop that covers numerous issues from economics to education.
The communique avoids any direct mention of the United States, and references to “unilateralism” and other coded criticism are also relatively scarce. Rather, the communique keeps the focus on the BRICS’ vision of the strengthening and reform of the global multilateral system ...
Category: Europe
Lessons for Europe From China’s Critical Minerals Strategy in Africa
While the U.S., India, and countries in the Persian Gulf are all moving quickly to establish new critical mineral supply chains, the European Union is struggling to follow suit, particularly in Africa. The EU currently lacks a cohesive policy framework that ...
Why Did the U.S. Bomb Iran? A Chinese Commentator Argues the Real Target Was Europe
An influential geo-political commentator on WeChat, Zhan Hao, offers a provocative interpretation of recent U.S. military actions in the Middle East. The article, titled “Unexpectedly, the biggest loser from the U.S. bombing of Iran is the European Union — it’s going to be drained dry in ...
Will China’s Trade Strategy in Africa Succeed Where Europe’s Didn’t?
At a recent ministerial meeting in the central Chinese city of Changsha, Beijing announced an ambitious new phase of its engagement with Africa: the possibility of eliminating customs duties on exports from all 53 African countries (except for Eswatini, which maintains diplomatic relations with Taiwan). While many ...
Europe’s Lithium Quest Hampered by China and Lack of Cash
By Alvaro Villalobos Europe's ambition to be a world player in decarbonised transportation arguably depends on sourcing lithium abroad, especially in South America. Even the bloc's broader energy security and climate goals could depend on ...
Europe’s Green Mining Regulations May Push Africa Closer to China
While Europe’s environmental policy to limit carbon emissions is well-meaning and aims to fight climate change, it could actually make things worse for Africa. Instead of helping the continent to develop its industries, EU policy might instead give China more control over access to valuable mineral resources, ...
Analysis from Cobus van Staden
Spain Busts Lucrative Chinese-Arab Money Laundering Ring
Spanish police on Wednesday said they had broken up a Chinese-Arab ring that laundered $21 million of proceeds from people and drug trafficking through the informal "hawala" money transfer system. Police said the investigation began after the dismantling of a migrant-trafficking ...
NATO Chief Says China Military Expansion ‘Staggering’
China's expansion of its armed forces is "staggering," NATO's chief said on a visit to Japan beginning Tuesday aimed at "projecting" the alliance's power in the Asia-Pacific region. "Let us not be naive about China," secretary general Mark Rutte told the ...
EU Unveils Critical Material Projects to Cut China Dependence
By Raziye Akkoc and Daniel Aronssohn The EU unveiled dozens of projects Tuesday to ramp up the extraction of critical raw materials in Europe as the bloc seeks to reduce its over-reliance on China. The ...
The End of the West and the Future of China
U.S. President Donald Trump's decision this week to pause military funding for Ukraine and to align his government with Russia further widens the cleavage between the United States and Europe — effectively breaking what has long been known as "the West." ...
Is Europe Facing a “Lost Decade” Across the Global South?
By Lukas Fiala With Europe scrambling to adjust to a world in rapid transition, two key events will shape the continent’s ability to sustain competition with China across the Global South. The first was exemplified by Germany’s election last Sunday, which ...
China FM to Visit Europe, U.S. Before G20 Talks in S. Africa
Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi will visit Europe and the United States this month before attending a Group of 20 meeting in South Africa, Beijing said on Monday. The announcement comes after Wang's U.S. counterpart Marco Rubio said he would skip ...
Global Gateway in Africa: Europe’s Answer to China’s Belt and Road
The European Commission's Global Gateway initiative will turn three years old in December. The $300 billion infrastructure initiative was launched with great fanfare to provide developing countries in Africa and elsewhere with an alternative to China's Belt and Road Initiative.