3/ So what are joint defensive interests? Analysis of shared import vulnerabilities on goods point to China big time, and a decent proportion of these can be considered strategically relevant.

1/ The EU is clearly trying to close-ranks with like-minded allies, notably with global partners (though the US TCC is pretty much on hold). Things are patchier closer to home, notably with regard to the UK.

A real pleasure to welcome the UK Minister for EU Relations, Nick Thomas-Symonds, to a roundtable with stakeholders in Berlin last week. A detailed and forward-looking discussion of the new Strategic Partnership. More can be done but this is a rare positive development in a gloomy int'l environment