Strategic Recalibrations: Central European Approaches to China and the Indo-Pacific

On September 29, 2025, the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) hosted a thought-provoking webinar under its ReThink.CEE Fellowship program, exploring how Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries are recalibrating their foreign policy approaches toward China and the broader Indo-Pacific region. Moderated by Julia Pallanch, Senior Program Coordinator at GMF, the session featured insights from: Zuzana Krulichová, ReThink.CEE Fellow, GMF Linas Didvalis, Associate Professor, Vytautas Magnus University Tamás Matura, Associate Professor, Corvinus University of Budapest; Founder, Central and Eastern European Center for Asian Studies Key Topics Discussed: Strategic shifts from bilateral China relations to Indo-Pacific frameworks Lithuania and Czechia’s Indo-Pacific strategies and signaling The role of small EU member states in shaping EU-China relations Implications for EU coherence, competitiveness, and geopolitical standing This webinar is part of GMF’s ongoing efforts to support strategic thinking and policy innovation in Europe’s engagement with global power dynamics.