China's '17+1' Summit in Europe | Feb. 9, 2021, 9:09 a.m.

China is set to host representatives from 17 Central and Eastern European countries for its latest "17+1" summit on February 9, 2020. What is the significance of this unique regional grouping? This collection of CSIS analysis explains the initiative's development and its significance for the region since its announcement in 2012.

View All Analysis | Jan. 12, 2021, 12:48 p.m.

Browse our analysis section for news and articles on topics such as China's Belt and Road Initiative (OBOR), the world's evolving digital infrastructure competition, and the stakes for U.S. policy.

Greece Considers Huawei Exclusion | Oct. 5, 2020, 9:12 a.m.

Greece is now considering excluding Huawei from its 5G network, following a recent visit from U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Greece Courts Chinese Investment | Aug. 18, 2020, 9:20 a.m.

Amid economic contraction, Greece’s government has increasingly turned to China for investment in power transmission, an underwater link, and the seaport of Piraeus, Nikkei reports.

Xi Suggests Health Silk Road | March 25, 2020, 9:12 a.m.

President Xi Jinping recently floated the idea of creating a "health silk road" paralleling the Belt and Road, which could further China's "mask diplomacy" efforts to provide medical supplies abroad and portray itself as a provider of international public goods. However, experts note that disinformation efforts by Chinese officials about COVID-19 are prompting pushback and could hinder such efforts.

Xi Visits BRI Port in Greece | Nov. 14, 2019, 10:59 a.m.

Chinese president Xi Jinping's visited Greece's Port of Piraeus on Monday, where the port's operator, Chinese state-owned shipping company COSCO, is set to invest another $661 million. Xi's trip underscored China's intent to continue expanding its footprint in Europe through its Belt and Road Initiative despite skepticism, Nikkei reports.

China Sees Greece as BRI Ally | May 17, 2019, 9:22 a.m.

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Greek President Prokopios Pavlopoulos, calling on Greece to help promote the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Europe. Beijing is seeking support for BRI from within the European Union as Europe's trade and investment relations with China expand, reports Nikkei.

Europe Divided on China's BRI | March 28, 2019, 9:28 a.m.

The European Union's recently adjusted China policy describes Beijing as a "systemic competitor." Yet from Greece to Italy, China's Belt & Road infrastructure investments, and the political influence these afford China, undermine efforts to build a European consensus on China, reports Nikkei.

European Fault Lines and Chinese Crossroads | Jan. 9, 2019, 12:47 p.m.

The European Commission has become increasingly critical of various Chinese investments within the EU, fueling an ongoing debate within Europe about investment screening. While the EU released a framework for foreign investment screening implicitly aimed at China in November 2018, the debate has exposed cross-cutting divisions within Europe. Looking ahead to 2019, we should not expect a clear resolution anytime soon.

China’s Expanding Presence in Southeast Europe | Dec. 19, 2018, 10:31 a.m.

Driving China’s Silk Road Economic Belt | Nov. 5, 2018, 10:09 a.m.

China's Belt and Road is commonly visualized as a train carrying commerce across Eurasia. But a train does not adequately capture BRI’s significance or scope. Instead, a Chinese flag is a better representation. Whether it is China’s intention or not, the increasing connectivity the BRI brings comes hand in hand with exposure to Chinese culture.

China’s Balkan Investment Rattles the EU | July 2, 2018, 9:41 a.m.

"China has lavished investment pledges on Balkan states as it prepares for a summit with 16 EU countries and aspiring members, stoking fears in Brussels and influential national capitals of an effort to divide the bloc" reports the Financial Times, citing data collected in collaboration with the CSIS Reconnecting Asia Project.

Greece Looks to Diversify Infrastructure Partners | Feb. 15, 2018, 10:54 a.m.

Greek Deputy PM says that Athens wants closer ties with other Asian countries too, not just China.

China’s “16+1” Equals Much Ado About Nothing? | Dec. 5, 2017, 9:41 a.m.

The political damage Chinese investment in the CEE has created for the EU is already visible in its inability to act cohesively vis-à-vis China on trademark foreign policy issues, namely upholding the international rule of law and protecting human rights.

China’s Balkan Silk Road | Nov. 20, 2017, 10:08 a.m.

The magnitude of the Balkan Silk Road project poses a mixture of opportunities and policy challenges for countries engaging in or seeking to benefit from its implementation.