European leaders have long avoided taking sides in the rivalry between the United States and China, hoping for stability and the ability to balance their interests. However, the Trump administration's trade actions against China and the recent alliance between the US, Britain, and Australia have disrupted this neutrality. Thomas Gomart, director of the French Institute of International Relations, stated that Europeans are hesitant to make a choice between the United States and China, preferring to delay the decision. The Biden administration, similar to the Trump administration, is pushing for a decision to be made. France was upset by this, but it may have a positive aspect for their broader goals. French President Emmanuel Macron has been a strong advocate for "strategic autonomy," which suggests that Europe should have a balanced relationship with the United States and China. Josep Borrell Fontelles, the European Union's foreign policy chief, supported this idea by emphasizing the need for Europe to be self-sufficient like other countries. The French were embarrassed when the Americans announced the submarine deal suddenly, following the chaotic events in Afghanistan. European allies were angry at the lack of consultation by the Biden administration, which further supported Macron's belief that the US is not a completely reliable security partner. Some analysts doubt if France will be able to use this incident to promote strategic autonomy, as it may be seen as a way for the French to advance their own interests by many Europeans. Europe's balancing act is becoming increasingly challenging, according to Rosa Balfour, director of Carnegie Europe. She emphasized the importance of Europe strategically positioning itself and investing in defense, while also maintaining strong alliances with countries like Britain and the United States. Balfour suggested that enhancing Europe's security capacity is key to gaining more influence with its partners. The new alliance, AUKUS, aims to incorporate Australia and Britain into the larger American security strategy against China. Analysts agree that the partnership between America and Britain provides a stronger deterrent to China in the Indo-Pacific for Australia compared to a deal with France, whose relations with Beijing have worsened. Ian Lesser, from the German Marshall Fund, emphasized the significance of this signal to Beijing, particularly for Australia. He also argued against viewing American actions in the Pacific as diminishing Europe's importance, noting that US commitment to European security remains strong. The EU's main challenge may lie in finding the political will for strategic autonomy, as mentioned by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the day the new Asian alliance was announced. France is moving towards autonomy, but it is unclear if the rest of Europe is interested in creating distance from Washington. There are concerns that France may isolate itself by doing so, as the United States remains a critical partner in regions where France has security concerns. There are doubts about America's reliability as a security partner in the future, especially if there is a conflict with China. In Poland, the reaction to the new alliance was more positive, with a focus on the US, Britain, and Australia working together to address China and defend the free world. However, there are criticisms that the Biden administration is not consulting European allies and disregarding their interests. He mentioned that this time it was the French who were left behind for the benefit of Germany, just like when the Nord Stream 2 pipeline was allowed to bypass Ukraine and Poland to benefit Berlin. The US claims to be strengthening alliances with Germany and Australia, but other allies end up suffering. In terms of relations with China, Europeans would rather not anger Beijing. European allies are uneasy about taking a more aggressive stance on China and are conscious of the importance of engaging in dialogue with China regarding climate and trade. It would be beneficial if Europe can continue talking to Beijing without being seen as forming a security alliance against China. The European Union may be able to handle this situation diplomatically and prevent the world from being divided into pro or anti-China camps, as China is promoting.