Jeffery Sachs – waking up Europe to strategic autonomy

Editor's note: Keith Lamb, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is a University of Oxford graduate with a Master of Science in Contemporary Chinese Studies. His primary research interests are China's international relations and "socialism with Chinese characteristics." The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

Jeffrey Sachs, a prominent American economist and former UN special advisor on sustainable development, recently addressed the European Parliament. He criticized the EU's subordination to the U.S. and its distorted historical perspective, which he argued hinders effective decision-making.

He described how U.S.-led Western wars, backed by Israel's powerful lobby, aim to maintain hegemony, including NATO's expansion, despite agreements with Russia to the contrary. The arrogance of primacy means the U.S.-led West favors game theory over strategic dialogue, moralizing wars as a simplistic Manichaean battle against evil men.

Ukraine is no exception; Sachs, familiar with the 2014 political turmoil in Ukraine, argues that the West's abandonment of the Minsk agreements and attacks on Russians in Donbass left Russia, fearing NATO's expansion aimed at its fragmentation, with no choice but to respond militarily.

For Europe, this has been disastrous. The destruction of sovereign states on its periphery has triggered a refugee crisis. Inflation is soaring and industry is struggling as "de-risking" from Russian gas and the Nord Stream sabotage, widely seen as a U.S. attack on German infrastructure – has left Europe dependent on costly U.S. energy.

Disguised as "de-risking," China is framed as an aggressor. Yet, it poses no threat to Europe or the wider world:   it is an opportunity that needs to be seized. With this in mind, Sachs finished by saying, "China is not an enemy. China is just a success story which is why it is viewed by the United States as an enemy."

As Kissinger observed, "it's dangerous to be America's enemy but fatal to be its friend." Europe and China now face the same dilemma. Hegemony has no friends – only interests. The U.S. seeks to divide China and Russia, yet with Europe, the rupture with Russia is a fait accompli and the same strategy is well into play with the Sino-Euro relationship.

When it comes to technology, the CHIPS Act pressured the Netherlands company ASML to restrict its high-tech equipment sales to China. Due to U.S. pressure, the UK has banned Huawei from critical infrastructure. This forced "de-risking" puts Europe at the mercy of big U.S. tech monopolies, decreases profits and makes prices more expensive for consumers.

EU states are pressured to deploy warships through the Taiwan Straits, escalating tensions with Beijing. They have no business doing so, especially when they should be guarding their territory, coveted by the U.S. This unnecessary foundation of belligerence is laid with Washington media manipulation and political influence. Narratives like debt-trap diplomacy and overcapacity pave the way for anti-China forces to embed "systemic rival" labels in EU strategy documents.

Europe must wake up: China is its natural partner. Two great civilizations at Eurasia's ends with no unresolvable disputes, only shared interests and challenges. With Greenland now at risk of being taken by the U.S., Europe should see its own future in China's struggle and, like China, work for deeper connectivity across Eurasia to counter U.S. hegemony.

Europeans should recognize China's goodwill and strengthen existing ties. China never seeks to force Europe to isolate from anyone or impose secondary sanctions on its companies. EU trade, in 2024, with China was worth around $700 billion, not far off from the U.S. figure. Indeed, it started to really take off before 2022 when suddenly due to pressure, figures stalled.  

Some talk of trade imbalances; but Europe is blocked from selling the high-tech goods China needs. Even with China's huge population, there is still a limit to the consumption of luxury European brands. 

When it comes to infrastructure, China is investing in Europe. Through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China funded the Piraeus Port increasing its capacity fourfold and providing thousands of jobs. It is now the fourth busiest European port after Rotterdam, Antwerp and Hamburg.

Hungary is taking the lead when it comes to green energy by partnering with Chinese companies. Battery giant CATL is building a 7.3 billion euro ($7.87 billion) battery plant in the eastern city of Debrecen while BYD is building its first European plant in Szeged. These investments will provide jobs for European workers and chances to learn from the Chinese model just as China learnt from the West.

When it comes to green energy, China is the only viable partner with the capacity to power Europe's green energy needs. No other country has the capacity to supply solar power panels or battery powered cars; Tesla's are certainly too expensive for the average European consumer.

Europe cannot wait; it must act for itself. For example, its strategic autonomy must be recaptured. Doing so requires Europe to look factually at the situation it has fallen into, which Sachs highlights well. In doing so, it can shape the future for Europeans not others.

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