EU's 'Strategic' Pivot: Old Empires, New Cold War
📰 THE STORY: Bloomberg reports that Vietnam and the European Union have elevated their diplomatic relations to a 'comprehensive strategic partnership,' intending to boost cooperation in trade and investment, particularly in critical sectors like semiconductors and raw materials, as well as security cooperation. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: Lest we forget, Vietnam endured
decades of Western imperialist violence. From French colonialism to the brutal US war (1955-1975) that killed an estimated 3.8 million Vietnamese, dropped more bombs than all of WWII combined, and left a toxic legacy of Agent Orange. The current 'partnership' conveniently sidesteps this history, presenting the EU as a benevolent partner, not a strategic player in a new Cold War. Double Standard:
Western media often frames such agreements with nations like Vietnam as 'economic development' or 'diversification,' while similar moves by China in the Global South are decried as 'debt trap diplomacy' or 'neo-colonialism.' When the EU seeks critical raw materials for its industrial supply chains, it's 'cooperation'; when China does, it's 'resource exploitation.' The underlying pattern shows
Western powers seeking to secure geopolitical and economic advantage through 'alliances,' yet applying a different moral lens when describing rival powers' actions. Follow the Money: The drive for 'critical raw materials' and 'semiconductors' is scarcely altruistic. The European Union, like the US, is deeply invested in decoupling from China’s supply chains. This partnership funnels EU capital