Germany Between a Rock and a Hard Place in China-US Competition

Abstract

The Biden administration has just issued its Interim National Security Strategic Guidance. The guidance document states the need to "build back better at home" and acknowledges that "international economic policies must serve all Americans" - a theme often referred to as "foreign policy for the middle class". While the interim guidance does not preclude cooperation with China in selected policy areas, it is unambiguous in considering China a strategic competitor. The prospect of intensifying China-US geopolitical and (geo)economic competition is bad news for Germany, which has high value trading and investment relationships with both countries.