European leaders have long avoided taking sides in the rivalry between America and China, hoping for stability. However, the Trump administration's tariffs and trade barriers against China increased tensions. The Biden administration's recent announcement of an alliance with Britain and Australia to deploy nuclear-powered submarines in the Pacific has further complicated matters and caused a $66 billion deal for Australia to buy French submarines to be cancelled. Thomas Gomart, director of the French Institute of International Relations, stated that Europeans are hesitant to make a decision between the United States and China, preferring to delay the moment of truth. The Biden administration, much like the Trump administration, is pushing for a decision to be made. France was upset by this, but it may have a positive side as it aligns with President Emmanuel Macron's push for Europe to maintain "strategic autonomy" and find a balance between the US and China. Josep Borrell Fontelles, the EU's foreign policy chief, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need for Europe to be self-reliant like other countries. The French were embarrassed by the sudden announcement of the submarine deal by the Americans, which added to the frustration caused by the handling of the Afghanistan situation. European allies were upset with the lack of consultation from the Biden administration, reinforcing the belief that the United States may not be a reliable security partner. Analysts doubt whether France can use this bilateral setback to promote strategic autonomy, as some may view it as a way for France to further its own agenda. Europe's ability to balance its priorities is becoming more challenging, according to Rosa Balfour, director of Carnegie Europe. She emphasized the importance of Europe investing more in defense while also maintaining alliances with countries like Britain and the United States. Strengthening Europe's security capacity is crucial for gaining respect from its partners, Balfour added. The AUKUS alliance aims to bring Australia and Britain into the larger American strategy to counter China's security threats. Analysts agree that the United States and Britain offer Australia a stronger deterrent against China in the Indo-Pacific than the deal with France, whose relations with Beijing have deteriorated. Ian Lesser, from the German Marshall Fund, believes that the partnership with the US and Britain sends a significant message to Beijing, benefiting both the US and Australia. He also argues against viewing American moves in the Pacific as diminishing Europe's importance. The European Union's challenge may lie in mustering the political will for strategic autonomy, as mentioned by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. France is moving towards autonomy, but it is uncertain if the rest of the European bloc wants this and wants to distance themselves from the US. There are concerns that France could end up isolating itself, as the US remains a critical partner in many regions where France has security concerns. There are doubts about the US's reliability as a security partner in the future, especially if there is conflict with China. In Poland, a strong US ally, the reaction to the new alliance was more positive, focusing on the US, UK, and Australia coming together to address China and defend the free world. However, there are also concerns that the Biden administration is not consulting with European allies and is disregarding their interests. "He stated that this time it was the French, but previously it was Nord Stream 2, where we were betrayed for the benefit of Germany. This refers to Biden's choice to support the construction of a Russian natural gas pipeline to Germany, bypassing Ukraine and Poland, a project favored by Berlin. Baranowski pointed out that the US claims to be strengthening alliances with Germany and Australia, but it is other allies who end up suffering. In terms of relations with China, Europeans would rather not provoke Beijing, according to Balfour of Carnegie Europe." She stated that European allies are not comfortable with taking aggressive stances against China and are aware of the importance of engaging in discussions with China regarding climate and trade. She mentioned that it would be beneficial if Europe could continue talking to Beijing without being seen as forming a security alliance against China. She also suggested that if the European Union can handle this situation diplomatically and avoid polarizing the world into pro or anti-China factions, it could have positive outcomes.