Hamas pressured from all sides as it weighs Trump's Gaza plan
A U.S.-sponsored ceasefire proposal for Gaza on Tuesday was hinging on Hamas's response to the 20-point plan which U.S. President Donald Trump has sai...
President Emeritus of the European Council Charles Michel has called for a more coherent, autonomous European Union policy on China and regional diplomacy, warning against over-reliance on the U.S. or Russia in shaping Europe’s global direction.
The European Union must define a more “precise and strategic” approach in its relationship with China and avoid letting external powers such as the U.S. or Russia dictate its direction,
This was the stance of President Emeritus of the European Council Charles Michel in a wide-ranging interview with Anewz on Tuesday.
He emphasized the need for the EU to balance principled engagement with China particularly on human rights and trade, while defending its strategic autonomy.
“We have to manage our differences in a responsible way… and the relationship between the EU and China should be based on its own merits,” he said. “Washington or Moscow shouldn’t influence the future relationship.”
He criticised the lack of clarity in the EU’s trade priorities with China and described the most recent EU–China summit as a “missed opportunity”, saying both sides were distracted by broader geopolitical tensions.
He urged Brussels to be more specific about its economic demands, particularly on supply chain diversification and access to critical raw materials.
While recognising China’s role as a major trade partner, Michel pointed to the bloc’s vulnerability during its past dependence on Russian fossil fuels as a lesson in overreliance.
“We need to develop our own capabilities in security, defence, and innovation,” he said.
On the question of transatlantic relations, Michel reaffirmed the importance of the EU–U.S. alliance but argued it should not come at the expense of Europe’s capacity to act independently.
“America First is put into practice,” he said. “There are consequences for the rest of the world.”
He also linked China’s role to wider global responsibilities, including respect for the United Nations Charter and territorial integrity in reference to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“If we tolerate victory for the aggressor, it sends a dangerous message to the rest of the world,” he said.
Turning to the South Caucasus, Michel welcomed the August 8th joint declaration between Armenia and Azerbaijan signed in Washington.
He described as a major step towards regional peace. He said earlier EU efforts, including the Brussels Process which he personally led, had laid the groundwork for the breakthrough.
“Brussels and the EU have no hidden agenda. We want more stability and predictability in our neighbourhood,” he said, adding that while the agreement was finalised in Washington, “the path matters more than the location.”
Michel warned, however, that external actors such as Iran and Russia continued to threaten regional progress. He accused the Kremlin of trying to prolong conflict to retain influence in the region and criticised Iran for “exporting extremism” and seeking nuclear immunity.
He concluded by saying the EU remains a reliable partner for countries seeking reform and stability.
“We sincerely want those countries to succeed… that’s the difference between the EU and Russia.”
AnewZ has learned that India has once again blocked Azerbaijan’s application for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, while Pakistan’s recent decision to consider diplomatic relations with Armenia has been coordinated with Baku as part of Azerbaijan’s peace agenda.
A day of mourning has been declared in Portugal to pay respect to victims who lost their lives in the Lisbon Funicular crash which happened on Wednesday evening.
Video from the USGS (United States Geological Survey) showed on Friday (19 September) the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii erupting and spewing lava.
At least eight people have died and more than 90 others were injured following a catastrophic gas tanker explosion on a major highway in Mexico City’s Iztapalapa district on Wednesday, authorities confirmed.
A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on 13 September with no tsunami threat, coming just weeks after the region endured a devastating 8.8-magnitude quake — the strongest since 1952.
A U.S.-sponsored ceasefire proposal for Gaza on Tuesday was hinging on Hamas's response to the 20-point plan which U.S. President Donald Trump has said was "beyond very close" to ending the two-year-old conflict in the region.
Volodymyr Z., a Ukrainian diver wanted by Germany over his alleged involvement in the Nord Stream explosions, has been detained in Poland, his lawyer said on Tuesday.
Vietnam's most devastating storm this year brought heavy rains that triggered floods across its north, disrupting flights and train services with the capital, Hanoi, where schools were closed and many homes inundated, authorities said on Tuesday.
Türkiye has joined Spain, Italy and Greece in monitoring an international flotilla carrying aid for Gaza that was sailing east across the Mediterranean Sea on Monday despite warnings from Israel to stop the mission, flight data show.
U.S. President Donald Trump and his Democratic opponents appeared to make little progress at a White House meeting aimed at heading off a government shutdown that could disrupt a wide range of services as soon as Wednesday.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment