China and Slovakia Announce Strategic Partnership: A New Door to EU Relations amid Uprising Tensions?

China’s Strategy to Strengthen Ties with Smaller EU Nations Amid Rising Tensions with Major EU Powers

Amid escalating tensions between China and major EU economies over trade and strategic interests, China is recalibrating its approach to Europe by deepening ties with smaller EU nations like Slovakia. As larger EU powers like Germany and France take a cautious stance on China, citing concerns over subsidies and intellectual property, China’s outreach to Slovakia through a recent strategic partnership illustrates a pivot to bolster influence within the EU through smaller, economically pragmatic member states. This targeted engagement with smaller countries could subtly reshape the EU’s collective stance, creating a nuanced landscape in EU-China relations.

China-Slovakia Joint Announcement: Strategic Partnership Overview

The China-Slovakia joint announcement, made on November 1, 2024, during Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico’s visit to China, marks a significant elevation of bilateral relations. The announcement outlines a comprehensive strategic partnership across four key areas:

1. Political Cooperation: China and Slovakia will establish a government-level strategic dialogue and cooperation committee, involving their respective foreign ministers or vice ministers. Slovakia reaffirmed its commitment to the One-China policy and expressed support for shared global values, emphasizing non-politicization of human rights issues. Both countries also expressed support for strengthening China-EU strategic relations, including exploring ways to align China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with the EU's Global Gateway strategy.

2. Economic Collaboration: Both nations committed to expanding bilateral trade and optimizing trade structures. Plans include improving trade facilitation, standard recognition, and fostering a fair business environment. Slovakia’s active participation in the BRI and the China-Europe rail freight network reflects its interest in strengthening trade links with China. Additionally, the partnership prioritizes cooperation in green development sectors, such as clean energy and new materials, aligning with China’s broader green investment goals in Europe.

3. Cultural and Educational Exchanges: The announcement underscores the importance of people-to-people ties through cultural, educational, and research exchanges. Both countries support initiatives for artistic exchanges, language programs, and further development of Confucius Institutes. Enhanced cooperation between research institutions and expanded sister-city relationships were also highlighted as means to foster closer cultural connections.

4. International Cooperation: China and Slovakia voiced shared support for multilateralism, particularly in maintaining a UN-centered international system and promoting an inclusive global economy. Slovakia expressed interest in exploring China’s global initiatives on development, security, and culture, with a mutual focus on addressing global issues like climate change and biodiversity conservation.

This strategic partnership, with its focus on political alignment, economic collaboration, cultural exchange, and multilateral cooperation, reflects China’s interest in establishing strong bilateral relationships with smaller EU countries as it navigates evolving dynamics within the EU.

A New Approach to EU Dynamics: Fragmenting the Unified EU Stance

China’s evolving strategy seeks to exploit the EU’s internal dynamics by fostering relationships with smaller countries that may prioritize economic benefits over geopolitical alignments. Unlike larger EU nations, Slovakia and other smaller states often face fewer geopolitical constraints and may adopt more flexible positions on contentious issues like trade regulations and human rights. By nurturing these economic and diplomatic ties, China is creating a potential buffer within the EU, one that may resist strict anti-China policies. This could lead to a fragmentation of the EU’s unified stance, especially if smaller nations emerge as moderating voices in policy discussions.

Leveraging Economic Influence: Infrastructure and Green Energy Partnerships

Smaller EU economies like Slovakia have a high demand for infrastructure investments, technological advancements, and green energy initiatives—all of which align with China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) offerings. Through this strategic partnership, China can position itself as a vital partner for Slovakia’s growth in these areas, potentially fostering economic dependencies that align Slovak interests with Chinese goals. Initiatives such as clean energy cooperation and transportation links not only boost local economies but also weave Slovakia into China-centric supply chains, making it more resistant to EU policies that may counter China’s interests, such as recent electric vehicle (EV) tariffs.

Smaller EU Countries as Strategic Gateways to Europe

By establishing stronger ties with countries like Slovakia, China gains a logistical and strategic advantage that might allow it to access the European market with reduced regulatory oversight compared to direct engagement with larger EU economies. These partnerships with smaller EU nations could create regional footholds, enabling Chinese goods and investments to enter Europe through less stringent regulatory pathways. In particular, projects like the China-Europe rail freight cooperation could strengthen China’s access to European markets through Eastern Europe, circumventing some of the EU-wide tariffs and restrictions championed by major economies.

Long-Term Political Influence: Softening the EU’s Stance

Over time, China’s economic investments and partnerships with smaller EU countries may gradually shift political alignments, even if subtly, within the EU. While Slovakia and other smaller nations generally adhere to EU principles, sustained benefits from Chinese partnerships may lead to more measured responses to EU-wide anti-China initiatives. By framing itself as a pragmatic partner, China is aiming to cultivate a supportive bloc within the EU that could, at the very least, temper aggressive stances on sensitive issues like human rights or economic independence from China.

Challenges to China’s Strategy: The EU’s Persistent Internal Unity

Despite China’s outreach, major EU economies like Germany and France remain staunchly committed to security, technology autonomy, and transatlantic partnerships, which limit the impact of smaller nations’ moderate stances. Even as China’s partnerships with smaller countries introduce more nuanced positions within the EU, these moderating influences are unlikely to reshape core EU policies, as decision-making within the bloc heavily depends on the consensus of major economies. The EU’s current focus on “de-risking” and reducing dependency on China—particularly in critical sectors—reflects a strategic shift aligned with Western allies that limits China’s broader influence within the bloc.

The Limits of Economic Leverage on Policy Changes

While China’s partnerships with smaller EU nations may yield economic influence, they are unlikely to significantly alter the EU’s fundamental policy approach, which is driven largely by major economies less susceptible to economic persuasion alone. Countries like Germany and France are more deeply integrated with transatlantic economies and prioritize regional security and autonomy over individual economic gains with China. Moreover, domestic political pressures within these nations, fueled by public concern over issues like human rights and data security, continue to shape a cautious stance toward China.

In summary, while China’s strategy of building alliances with smaller EU countries like Slovakia introduces new complexities to EU-China relations, it is unlikely to fundamentally shift the EU’s approach. Rather, China may find that these relationships serve as regional inroads for economic engagement but lack the power to drive substantial geopolitical change within the EU’s larger framework.