Europe Watches as Trump and Xi Move Toward Managed Competition (decode39.com)

• Trump and Xi held a summit in Beijing emphasizing managed competition.
• European policymakers are concerned about being sidelined.
• The shift toward structured rivalry may reduce conflict risk but challenges European strategic autonomy.

"U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Beijing, signaling a shift toward more predictable great-power competition. European policymakers observed the summit with caution, recognizing that Washington and Beijing are increasingly managing their rivalry through structured dialogue rather than open confrontation. This trend may reduce the risk of direct conflict but also risks sidelining European interests. The meeting highlighted the emerging G2 dynamic, where the U.S. and China set the terms of global competition, leaving Europe to adapt."