Chinese capital didn’t just buy European infrastructure—it bought influence. From ports to 5G, Europe traded growth for dependency. Drawing on REDEFINE research, this article exposes the strategic costs, hidden leverage, and geopolitical consequences now shaping Europe’s future
GeoTrends sits down with Dr. Wu Shicun to discuss China’s approach to regional cooperation, Taiwan tensions, naval modernization, and the country’s vision for peace and shared stability in the Asia–Pacific
While the world was distracted, COSCO quietly signed a $7 billion deal for 87 new ships. This colossal move isn’t just about adding vessels; it’s a calculated reconstruction of maritime power—one that could reshape global shipping for a decade
While the West obsessed over ports, rails, and debt ratios, Beijing quietly shifted course. BRI 2.0 replaces concrete with code, building technological dependence that reshapes global power, standards, and geopolitical alignment
China has formally unveiled its third Policy Paper for Latin America and the Caribbean, a document that serves not as mere diplomatic protocol but as a comprehensive manifesto of its long-term strategic ambitions, confirming Beijing’s LATAM strategy is fully operational
The colossal $1 trillion Chinese trade surplus has exposed the structural rot at the heart of the continent, plunging German industry into free fall and forcing a desperate political re-evaluation of Europe’s economic future. The European industrial crisis is here
Inspired by the November 2025 U.S. National Security Strategy, the piece uncovers Washington’s blueprint to challenge China via economics, technology, and alliances—avoiding military confrontation
Balochistan is emerging as a pivotal geopolitical arena where strategic ports, critical minerals, and great-power competition collide, creating significant opportunities but also heightening security risks and local tensions
Beijing enters 2026 with unprecedented geopolitical swagger, flaunting economic resilience and technological ambition. Yet, as highlighted in the latest MERICS assessment of China’s trajectory, this polished narrative conceals a far more brittle domestic reality—one that could ultimately derail the country’s strategic ambitions
Vasilis Petropoulos explains how China’s hybrid influence in the Balkans and Eastern Mediterranean challenges Greece, the EU, and NATO, based on the new IIER report co-authored with Plamen Tonchev