The China-Russia partnership is a highly consequential geopolitical alignment driven by a shared goal of countering U.S. hegemony and reshaping the international order into a multipolar system. While not a formal alliance, this relationship is strengthened by Russia's increasing economic reliance on China following Western sanctions, which allows Beijing to leverage its influence. Policymakers should note that while the partnership projects deep solidarity (as seen in high-level summits), it remains complex and limited by mutual mistrust and competing strategic interests. This enduring alignment poses a significant challenge to U.S. interests and requires continued diplomatic vigilance.
Integration or deregulation? Europe’s split over how to achieve sovereignty
English Summary
The article argues that Europe’s sovereignty debate is increasingly split between an integrationist strategy (more EU-level coordination, financing, and industrial policy) and a deregulatory growth strategy (less bureaucracy, stronger national competitiveness). It supports this by contrasting leaders and policy preferences: Macron and Draghi push pooled instruments such as joint procurement and common financing, while De Wever, Merz, and Meloni prioritize regulatory simplification and nationally driven industrial revival. The piece warns that the main danger is not institutional rupture but policy incoherence, where parallel national and EU initiatives in defense and energy create duplication and underpowered outcomes. Strategically, it suggests the most viable path is a calibrated hybrid: selective integration in scale-dependent sectors (defense, tech, energy infrastructure) combined with targeted deregulation to restore growth, with Germany’s choices likely to determine whether that synthesis holds.
中文摘要
該文主張，歐洲的主權辯論正日益分裂為兩條路線：一是整合主義策略（加強歐盟層級的協調、融資與產業政策），二是去監管成長策略（減少官僚負擔、強化國家競爭力）。文章透過對比領導人及其政策偏好加以論證：馬克宏與德拉吉推動聯合採購、共同融資等共享工具；德韋弗、梅爾茨與梅洛尼則優先推進法規簡化與國家主導的產業復興。文中警告，主要風險不在制度性斷裂，而在政策不一致：國家與歐盟在國防與能源領域並行推進的倡議，可能導致重複投入與力度不足的結果。從戰略上看，最可行的路徑是經過校準的混合模式：在依賴規模效應的部門（國防、科技、能源基礎設施）採取選擇性整合，同時配合定向去監管以恢復成長，而德國的政策選擇很可能決定此一綜合方案能否維持。
Related Entries
-
1.
-
2.
The Chatham House analysis concludes that the UK's Defence Investment Plan (DIP) will be viewed by NATO allies as a mixed bag, primarily due to its failure to commit to higher GDP spending targets. However, the plan signals critical strategic improvements by emphasizing novel technologies—such as autonomous systems and digital infrastructure—and enhancing readiness. Crucially, the DIP adopts an international focus through major collaborative programs (e.g., AUKUS, GCAP) and establishes a new National Armaments Director Group (NADG). This structural shift toward flexible, portfolio-based collaboration is strategically valuable for NATO allies seeking reliable partners as US conventional forces reduce their European presence.
-
3.
The article argues that the U.S., through recent policy signals—such as questioning NATO's value or sympathizing with great-power territorial claims—is inadvertently adopting the core tenets of non-alignment, prioritizing transactional national interests over binding alliances. Historically, while non-alignment allowed developing nations to gain benefits without commitment, the analysis notes that this approach lacks the deep trust and shared obligations necessary for robust security structures. The implication is critical: by undermining established alliances, the U.S. risks losing its greatest strategic asset—the network of mutual commitments—as allies actively seek alternative bilateral or regional defense pacts.
-
4.
The roundtable established that implementing generational bans represents a powerful, long-term strategy for tackling deeply entrenched public health crises like tobacco use. Using the UK’s permanent ban on selling cigarettes to those born after 2009 as key evidence, experts analyzed how such policies fundamentally alter market dynamics and consumer behavior over time. These lessons suggest that other nations facing persistent addiction challenges should consider adopting similar age-gating or generational restrictions to accelerate decline and set a precedent for future public health policy interventions.
-
5.
The CSIS analysis finds that the U.S. grid's regulatory framework for connecting large loads is severely fragmented and unprepared for the massive electricity demands posed by AI data centers. FERC has mandated significant reforms across six regional operators, requiring them to modernize interconnection studies, prevent cost-shifting, and establish clear tariffs for co-located generation. Evidence shows that most operators fall far short of these new standards, necessitating complex, multi-year policy adjustments rather than simple compliance. Policymakers must coordinate federal regulation (FERC) with state utilities to accelerate grid modernization, ensuring energy affordability while maintaining technological competitiveness.