Of course, the European Union (EU) will not respond to Chinese President Xi Jinping, who on Friday, April 11, during a visit by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, urged the bloc to "resist together" against Washington's "unilateral coercion." In the current context, the EU has no interest in doing so.

Admittedly, the US remains an ally of the 27 member states, even today, while the EU has viewed China as a "partner, competitor and systemic rival" since 2019. "There will be no shift. Our strategic interests will remain closer to those of the US in terms of values and democracy," said a European diplomat. However, the American president's protectionist offensive, his handling of the Ukrainian war with Moscow, not to mention the risk of Washington losing interest in the security of Europe, has convinced even the most transatlantic-oriented countries to distance themselves.

Nevertheless, the EU also should not get too close to Beijing. Washington − engaged in a relentless trade war with China − would not necessarily appreciate that. It would be a "losing bet" for the Europeans, equating to "cutting your own throat," said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on April 9, with Sanchez's visit in mind. "If we engage in China's game, we get caught in the escalation of tariffs," said a European diplomat.

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