German parliamentarian and MEP David McAllister speaks for a
large section of the European ruling class. There is both an air of opportunism
and necessity underlying his commentary – his plea for Europe to expand its
interests into the Asia-Pacific region.
First there is the desire to see Atlanticism perpetuated. The
US remains the dominant power and while the rise of the EU represents something
of a rivalry, there is still a unity vis-à-vis the powers of Eurasia. As
America's attention is directed toward the Asia-Pacific region there are some
such as McAllister who believe it's in Europe's interest to participate – to
have a stake in the struggle and hopefully benefit from whatever rewards it
might bring.
For those wary of China, it only makes sense to participate
and expand the field and to not view the EU's relationship with China in
isolation from Eurasia's larger geopolitical questions.
By focusing primarily on US allies in the region, the EU will
earn the favour of Washington and many doors will be opened to trade, arms
sales and the like. For the EU-Atlanticist establishment there is every reason
to look east.
But it's not that simple. Atlanticism is also in danger and by
some estimations in decline. And so if time and events prove this to be the
case it is also in Europe's interest to look East. There is money to be made
and deals to be brokered and now that Moscow is expressing interest in the
region as recently demonstrated by the Moscow-ASEAN naval exercises, then it's
in the interest of Brussels to win good will and establish relationships. Such
a move can slow Chinese growth, check Russian power, and (for the foreseeable
future) curry favour with the USA and its allies.
And if or when the US begins to fade and recede in terms of
its power and influence, Europe will stand ready to fill the void – a void that
will be filled by someone, and so from the standpoint of Brussels and the other
power-centres in Europe – it might as well be the EU.
Further there is another consideration. Whether the EU as a
bloc gets involved, individual EU-member states are regardless. As the article
mentions France is involved – all the more given its historical interests.
Germany and the Netherlands are also investing and looking for opportunities.
As these nations pursue their own goals, their geopolitical strategies and
perhaps even dilemmas are divorced from Europe as a whole. Money and attention
will be focused on these regions and like it or not the EU as a whole – both
diplomatically and financially will be entangled. So rather than allow the
interests of individual states to dominate, the European Establishment wants to
see a more managed and coherent strategy. Individual nations will be unable to
stand up to China and Russia but the EU as a bloc has a chance.
As expected all these goals which are related to power and
money are clothed and washed in the trappings of humanitarianism. This is the
way these projects are marketed and it's a time tested and proven way to win
over the Left to what are essentially Right-wing goals of the capitalist class.
Finally, as the European project is itself in jeopardy, a
tilt toward Asia would introduce financial, diplomatic, and ultimately military
dynamism. The EU is an imperial conglomerate that is riven with dissension and
internal threats. Projecting attention and potential conflict outwardly is an
old strategy meant to unify and given the threats from within it's safe to say
that the EU as a power must advance and strengthen or it will stagnate, crumble
from within, and die.
See also:
https://pilgrimunderground.blogspot.com/2019/12/movement-and-summits-in-central-asia-eu.html
https://pilgrimunderground.blogspot.com/2021/01/fiscal-and-diplomatic-cracks-in.html
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