Commission says EU "was not informed" about AUKUS deal from the involved parties. The announcement came hours after von der Leyen's attempt to counteract Chinese influence with a "global gateway" and today's Indo-Pacific strategy that has been blown out the water so to speak 🛥️
EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell will face journalists in a few hours at a press conference on the Indo-Pacific strategy which was celebrated only yesterday as a "milestone" for EU influence in the region
https://twitter.com/EU_Commission/status/1438047558945935362
AUKUS nuclear deal is the most egregious in a growing list of Biden blindsiding the EU. Other notable examples this year include Yellen tabling global corporate OECD tax deal and US backing vaccine waivers -- both without consulting Europeans
In some glimmer of face saving news, there were indications earlier this week that von der Leyen would make transatlantic relations a centre-point of her State of the Union speech. In the end, she didn't and it barely featured. Which turned out to be for the best 😶
Eternal optimist Josep Borrell says timing of AUKUS shows "timeliness" of the EU's Indo-Pacific strategy. He adds the French are now pushing EU to bulk up its presence in the region "to protect our interests and values"
Borrell: "I'm not saying we should send in an EU fleet in [the Indo Pacific] but we should have EU vessels from different countries each day...lets reinforce our presence, coordinate so it is a presence that we can be sure of"
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