Navigating EU Foreign Policy and the US-China Rivalry: The Greenland Factor

They're shaking hands, but the fists remain clenched. While Beijing hoped Washington's attempt to acquire Greenland would fracture transatlantic ties, a veteran diplomat says a fundamental realignment is off the table.

Navigating EU Foreign Policy and the US-China Rivalry

William Klein, former charge d’affaires at the US embassy in China, suggests that the European Union's primary mission will be steering through the intensifying competition between the two superpowers. During a recent seminar, he emphasized that the EU is focused on finding a "workable balance" rather than switching sides.

The speculation in Beijing hinted that diplomatic friction over Greenland could push Europe closer to China's sphere of influence. However, Klein argued that the structural foundations of the transatlantic alliance are far more resilient than temporary diplomatic spats suggest.

The Myth of a Transatlantic Realignment

Despite the rhetoric, the core task for European policymakers remains the same: protecting their own economic interests while maintaining security ties with the US. A fundamental shift toward China isn't just unlikely—it's strategically unfeasible for the EU at this stage.