CSIS is pleased to welcome the Honorable James Risch (R-ID), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, for a discussion on China’s growing economic and political influence in Europe and the need for a cohesive transatlantic strategy and policy response. Recent high-level visits to China by the German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron highlight the urgent need for a transatlantic approach; Chinese strategic economic investments in Europe, through its Belt and Road Initiative, the 17+1 format, and focus on acquiring European firms, as well as its increasingly dominant telecommunications position, challenge NATO as well as transatlantic security and intelligence cooperation. As Beijing exerts influence over EU and non-EU members alike, Beijing has been able to exploit policy differences between the United States and Europe. Following Senator Risch’s opening remarks, he will be joined in a moderated discussion with CSIS Senior Vice Presidents Heather Conley and Michael Green to dive more deeply into the policy challenges of countering China’s foothold in Europe and developing a common transatlantic approach.
