The Munich Wake-Up Call: Europe Must Ditch America for a Eurasian Future
The 61st Munich Security Conference confirmed what many feared: the U.S. is no longer Europe’s partner—it’s our primary destabilizer. The path forward runs through China, not Washington.
Europe is at a Crossroads: We must rethink our global alliances in a shifting global order
The 61st Munich Security Conference has exposed a stark reality: the United States is no longer the reliable friend and partner Europe once knew, trusted, and relied upon. Instead, the U.S. has emerged as an adversary, leaving Europe to confront its immediate and long-term geostrategic priorities alone. As an Asian century dawns Europe must forge closer ties with China to secure its future, and achieve geopolitical autonomy.
Europe’s Immediate Priorities: Resolving Threats, Securing Stability
Europe’s most pressing challenges are twofold. First, the Russian threat on our doorstep looms large, and resolving it demands the construction of a sustainable defensive reality in which both Europe and Russia can coexist together. Second, domestic political and social extremism is on the rise, fuelled in part by external population migrations exacerbated by decades of U.S.-driven destabilization in Europe’s neighbourhood - the Maghreb and Levant.
In addressing these issues, it becomes necessary for Europe to take decisive action. Resolving the Russian threat requires a pragmatic approach that prioritizes continental stability over escalatory and ultimately self-defeating confrontation. Simultaneously, tackling domestic extremism necessitates addressing the root causes of migration crises, which have been worsened by U.S. policies over the past 35 years.
Long-Term Goals: Autonomy, Climate, and Development
Looking beyond the immediate, the three geostrategic goals facing Europe over this century appear to me obvious:
Achieving geopolitical autonomy from the U.S. – Europe can no longer rely on a partner that undermines our core interests.
Tackling climate change – A global challenge that requires collaboration with nations like China, which is leading in green technology.
Economically developing sub-Saharan Africa – A stable and prosperous Africa will ensure stability in Europe’s neighbourhood and curb migration crises.
These goals are not just aspirational; they are essential for Europe’s survival and prosperity.
Achieving geopolitical autonomy from the U.S. is a necessary prerequisite if any positive outcomes are to be obtainable.
Without geopolitical autonomy from the United States, the subsequent 100-year goals named above cannot be realised. It also constitutes a necessary prerequisite for the immediate priority of constructing a sustainable defence architecture both Russia and the EU can tolerate together.
Meaningful and tangible European strategic autonomy also serves to limit the scope for destabilising U.S. actions in the Levant and Maghreb. In my 35 years the false promise of US liberal hegemony has devastated whole countries on the European doorstep. Over 1 million dead or displaced by the illegal war in Iraq, Libya reduced to an open slave market and a Syrian civil conflict made incalculably worse by the CIA’s Operation Timber Sycamore - which witnessed U.S. taxpayers funding and arming Al-Qaeda terrorists.
Beyond the geo-strategic, rising global temperatures are fuelling a global hunger, and inducing mass migration from Sub Saharan Africa; which in turn is inflaming far-rightist threats to European political norms. If Europe is to ensure social harmony at home, ending the migration crises are essential and is only possible by tackling climate change. Doing this demands a meaningful EU-China bilateral relationship independent of the United States of America.
American Leaders: A Threat to European Stability
The actions and statements of prominent American leaders at 61st Munich Security Conference was the language of an adversary. Leading figures surrounding the convicted felon, President Donald Trump, actively champion fascistic, racist and alt-right forces in the guise of ‘free speech’. All of this underscores the pressing need for Europe to distance itself from the U.S.
‘Tech-Bro’ Elon Musk: As the world’s richest man is going after the social welfare of America’s poorest children he is simultaneously aligning himself with far-right European figures like Germany’s AfD, France’s Le Pen, and Britain’s Tommy Robinson.
Musk is actively undermining efforts to combat European domestic extremism, racism and intolerance. His influence poses a direct threat to Europe’s social cohesion. He is a modern-day capitalist robber-baron and media mogul outside of any meaningful political control.
JD Vance: The U.S. Vice President is dismissive of any European participation in resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He insists that Europe focus on reordering our domestic socio-politics to one more of his liking, rather than allowing European and Russian leaders to construct our own defensive architecture. It reveals a profound American disconnect from Europe’s security needs, not to mention striking and dangerous U.S. hypocrisy.
Vance berates Germany for excluding political forces which undermine social harmony at home while saying nothing about his own leader’s role in the January 6 insurrection.
He condemns the UK for insisting British women can access reproductive healthcare free from religious extremist harassment. As Vance interferes in our domestic politics, he decries others for doing the same to the U.S.
U.S. Vice Presidential hypocrisy is exposed by his denial of the 2020 U.S. election results, further eroding any European capacity to trust in American leadership.
Donald Trump: The convicted felon-President of the U.S excludes Europe and Ukraine from peace negotiations, while thank-goodness China is insisting all parties should be permitted.
President Trump, a man found guilty in a civil court for sexually assaulting writer E. Jean Carroll, is at this moment demanding exploitative control over Ukrainian mineral resources. The felon-President of America insists that Ukraine be the first nation in history to pay reparations for being invaded is not only absurd but also indicative of his willingness to exploit weaker nations. His exclusion of Europe from peace talks signals a troubling realignment with Russia, not an effort to appease it.
China’s Leadership in Green Energy and Climate Action
China meanwhile has emerged as a global leader in green energy and climate change mitigation, driven by ambitious policies, massive investments, and technological innovation. While the country remains the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases due to its size and industrial base, it has also become a powerhouse in renewable energy production and climate action.
Dominance in Renewable Energy: China is the world’s largest producer of solar panels, wind turbines, and hydropower. It has installed more solar and wind capacity than any other country and leads in electric vehicle (EV) production and battery technology.
Massive Investments: China spends hundreds of billions annually on renewable energy and is a leader in next-generation technologies like advanced battery storage and hydrogen energy.
Global Exports: Through initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China exports green technology worldwide, helping other countries transition to clean energy.
Ambitious Climate Targets: China has pledged to peak its carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, some of the most ambitious goals set by any major economy.
Despite challenges like coal dependency and environmental degradation, China’s leadership in green energy is undeniable. For Europe, partnering with China on green energy initiatives could accelerate progress toward shared climate goals and help achieve our desperately needed geopolitical autonomy.
A Strategic Europe-China Partnership: Addressing Green Technology Oversupply and African Development
The shifting global order before us presents an opportunity for Europe and China to forge a mutually beneficial partnership that addresses two critical challenges: China’s oversupply of green technology and Europe’s goal of economically developing sub-Saharan Africa. By linking these objectives, the two regions can create a sustainable and geopolitically autonomous alliance that excludes the United States.
1. Europe’s Role in Addressing China’s Green Technology Oversupply
China’s dominance in green technology production has led to significant oversupply in its domestic market. Europe can play a key role in helping China manage this oversupply while advancing its own green transition:
Importing Chinese Green Technology: Europe can increase imports of Chinese solar panels, wind turbines, and EVs to accelerate its renewable energy transition.
Joint Ventures and Localized Production: European companies can partner with Chinese firms to establish manufacturing hubs in Europe, creating jobs and reducing supply chain risks.
Research and Development Collaboration: Europe and China can collaborate on next-generation green technologies, such as advanced battery storage and hydrogen energy.
2. China’s Role in Helping Europe Develop Sub-Saharan Africa
Europe’s long-term goal of economically developing sub-Saharan Africa aligns with China’s expertise in infrastructure development and its existing presence in the region through initiatives like the BRI. China can support Europe’s efforts in the following ways:
Infrastructure Development: China can leverage its experience in building roads, railways, ports, and energy infrastructure to help develop sub-Saharan Africa.
Renewable Energy Projects: China can export its surplus green technology to Africa, helping the continent leapfrog fossil fuel dependency and build a sustainable energy infrastructure.
Agricultural and Industrial Cooperation: China’s expertise in agricultural modernization and industrial development can be combined with Europe’s focus on sustainable practices to boost African economies.
3. Linking the Two Goals: A Win-Win Partnership
By connecting China’s green technology oversupply with Europe’s African development goals, the two regions can create a self-reinforcing partnership:
Green Technology for African Development: Europe can facilitate the transfer of China’s surplus green technology to sub-Saharan Africa, where it is urgently needed.
Economic Stability and Migration Reduction: By helping Africa develop its infrastructure and economy, Europe can address the root causes of migration crises, which exacerbate domestic political and social extremism.
Geopolitical Autonomy: This partnership would allow Europe and China to reduce their reliance on the United States. Europe would gain access to affordable green technology and a stable African neighbourhood, while China would find new markets for its surplus production and strengthen its global influence.
Conclusion: A New Model for Global Cooperation
The Munich Security Conference has made it clear: Europe cannot trust the United States to respect its domestic politics, aid in its defence, or support its long-term geostrategic goals. The U.S. is no longer a partner or ally but an active and dangerous adversary.
To secure its future, Europe must embrace a new path. This means cooperating more closely with China to address shared challenges like climate change and global economic development. It also means pursuing geopolitical autonomy to resolve immediate threats and achieve long-term stability.
By linking China’s green technology oversupply with Europe’s African development ambitions, the two regions can create a sustainable and geopolitically autonomous alliance. This partnership represents a bold step toward a new world order, one in which Europe and China take the lead in shaping a sustainable and equitable future.
It is time to usher in not the ‘Asian Century’ but rather a ‘Eurasian Century’, focused around Chinese-EU global leadership. A new rules based international order which can liberate us from the dangers posed by a ‘Thucydides trap’ . I for one would call this a ‘win-win’ scenario worth striving for.
Dean M Thomson is currently a lecturer with Beijing Normal - Hong Kong Baptist University, United International College (UIC).
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