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Chess made from USA, EU and China flags on a world map. China, Europe Union and United States of America trade competition

Washington, DC and Prague, Czech Republic&nbsp;We are the Havel Dialogue. Inspired by an idea—the vital importance of a civilization’s moral foundation in Vaclav Havel’s 1994 address, the Havel dialogue is an informal group of conservatives from across the transatlantic community bound by a common interest in advancing human flourishing through free, prosperous, secure, and sovereign nations.Since 2018, the group has periodically held live/virtual meetings to discuss the crucial political, cultural, and security issues of the day in the transatlantic community. Over the years, a number of recurring themes have emerged. Based on that experience, here we list a set of common challenges and responses that the dialogue has identified with the intent that this helps guide participants in their own efforts, encourages collaboration, furthers networking, and new actions and initiatives. One of the key concerns we feel must be addressed is the malicious influence of China in the transatlantic community.Chinese influence in Europe has risen over the course of the twenty-first century. China’s trade with Europe has risen from about $92 billion in 2020 to over $676 billion in 2024. As a result, China is now a major trading partner for many European countries and under investigation by the European Union for unfair trade practices including dumping.Though the U.S. remains Europe’s largest trading partner and investor, Chinese investments have cropped up across the continent. From port investments to telecommunications to electric car manufacturing, Chinese investment has surged over the past several decades through both bilateral (such as providing servers for Spanish wiretap recordings) and multilateral arrangements (such as the 16+1).While China’s infrastructure investment packages can appear fiscally attractive for development, they come at a high cost. Many such projects provide China with concerning sway or disconcerting access. Take Hutchison Port Holdings’ investment in a container terminal at Poland’s Gdynia port. Ostensibly harmless, it just so happens to share the port with a shipyard constructing Polish frigates, and Hutchison exerted their influence in 2024 to block the unloading of U.S. Army equipment at Gdynia due to a protrusion of only a few feet into their zone.<figure id="figure-crjw1wl5sjmg0f5cow"><img id="crjw1wl5sjmg0f5cow" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/1502503572/photo/ominous-moment-for-china-national-flag-being-erased-from-a-scratched-grungey-concrete-wall.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=T1AMGJbs6G3H4wBPAGMi8dp-STCtQgGfbHqF1yjvxgI=" alt="Ominous moment for China: national flag being erased from a scratched grungey concrete wall, with copy space" title="Ominous moment for China: national flag being erased from a scratched grungey concrete wall, with copy space" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/1502503572/photo/ominous-moment-for-china-national-flag-being-erased-from-a-scratched-grungey-concrete-wall.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=T1AMGJbs6G3H4wBPAGMi8dp-STCtQgGfbHqF1yjvxgI=" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;"></figure>Diplomatically, China has pressured regional states to avoid raising human rights concerns while backing Russia. Beijing’s coercive measures have escalated as high as sanctioning members of the European Parliament for calling out China’s human rights abuses of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang. Though the sanctions were recently lifted, China’s ongoing no-limits partnership with Russia confirms their diplomatic hostility as Moscow wages a brutal war in Ukraine.At the Havel Dialogue, we uphold the sovereignty of states and the right of all countries in our hemisphere to make their own decisions regarding economic and diplomatic policy. We further recognize that China is exploiting actual needs of countries in the community that are not being filled by other partners. There is no problem with normal economic engagement with China or any other country, but we must not allow Beijing’s growing presence to foster instability, threaten security, or erode our cherished democratic norms.To this end, we call upon the community to work together, as well as with extra-regional partners, to develop alternatives to trade and investment dependencies on China. At the same time, we call upon all countries to uphold our fundamental four NOs in their dealings with China:#1. No strategic dependences. Like most countries in the world today, those in the Western Hemisphere depend on China for many critical goods, from rare earth minerals to pharmaceuticals to manufactured products. They also depend on China’s insatiable market of 1.4 billion people to purchase many of their exports, particularly in agriculture and energy. We call for hemispheric cooperation in overcoming these dependencies through tasks such as exploiting more of the abundant rare earth minerals scattered throughout the hemisphere and developing the region’s manufacturing sector. Meanwhile, no country in the hemisphere should allow itself to become dependent on China for renewable energy sources of which Beijing has a near monopoly.#2. No military cooperation. Nothing would destabilize the Western Hemisphere more than a Chinese military presence. Such a development would risk moving the center of gravity in U.S.-China strategic competition from East Asia to the Americas, increasing the risk of a great power conflict in our neighborhood for the first time since the colonial era. This is a real threat. Beijing seeks to push the U.S. military out of Asia and, to this end, may attempt to create security challenges Washington must address in its own periphery. It does not need military bases in the region to do this. To preserve regional peace and stability, Western Hemisphere countries should refrain from cooperating with China’s military and end agreements that permit the Chinese military to run satellite stations in regional countries’ territories.#3. No ignoring spying, intellectual property theft, transnational criminal activity, and destabilizing actions or influence operations. China actively infringes on the sovereignty of countries throughout the world through its espionage activities and by engaging in unsanctioned police operations outside of their jurisdiction that target individuals in other countries. No country can overcome these activities on its own. Cooperation among like-minded countries is essential.#4. No ignoring human right abuses. China is among the world’s most prolific human rights abusers. It seeks to use its position in the United Nations to erode global human rights norms, which it perceives as a threat to its legitimacy. Western Hemisphere countries must work together to keep the pressure on China over its human rights record and resist pressure and enticements to water down human rights norms in the UN and other international bodies. Doing so may curry favor with Beijing, but any benefit that brings is negated by the negative impacts on the global norms that help undergird the political and social stability of many countries on this hemisphere.SignedKaush Arha, Indo-Pacific Forum Megi Benia, Former Georgian Diplomat Adam Bolek, President of the Canada Strong and Free Network Joseph Bosco Dr. James Jay Carafano Ambassador Kelley Currie Karla Jones Vice President, ALEC Center for International Freedom Dr. Juliana Geran Pilon, Senior Fellow, The Alexander Hamilton Institute for the Study of Western Civilization Nikola Kedhi, the Albanian Conservative Institute Nicola Iuvinale, Senior China Fellow, Extreme Radio&nbsp; Gabriele Iuvinale, Senior China Fellow, Extreme Radio&nbsp; Carlos Augusto Chacón Monsalve, Executive Director, Instituto de Ciencia Política Hernán Echavarría Olózaga David Oldroyd-Bolt Anglosphere Fellow, The Danube InstituteAmbassador Carla Sands&nbsp; Joseph Schneider Vas Shenoy, Founder, Indo-Mediterranean Initiative Matt Tyrmand&nbsp; Joe Varner, &nbsp;Senior Fellow of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute

Statement on Defending the Transatlantic Community from China’s Malign Influence

The Inspiration, Leadership, and Legacy of Charlie Kirk Washington, DC-September 16, 2025We mourn the murder of conservative student organizer, political activist, and media influencer, the American Charlie Kirk, who was also a devoted father and loving husband—a man of deep faith, courage, and kindness, a friend and mentor. We also celebrate Charlie—an inspiration to many around the world. Charlie's life and legacy have particular relevance to those of us committed to building better nations, societies, and communities of God-fearing people.Over recent years, a number of recurring themes have emerged across the global community. Based on that experience, and dialogue among likeminded leaders who share principles and a passion for enabling change that leads to more free, secure, and prosperous sovereign nations, we seek to encourage collaboration, further networking, and new actions and initiatives. We, as the Friends To Liberty, work to empower and enable those committed to change. Our focus is in five areas: (1) develop the ends, ways, means and courage to lead and govern as a conservative; (2) develop the capacity for good governance; (3) have the means to compete in the information and cultural space, not devolving into propaganda or content management or restricting free speech but simply having the capability to tell people honestly who you are; 4) Build an independent, thriving, civil society-that can’t be silenced by the left and not dependent on the party, the government, or elite interests, that can engage critical elements of the society, particularly youth, 5) Leverage the strength, support, wisdom, and courage of a global movement and the networks of a likeminded community that knit it together.Today, we celebrate Charlie whose life and work had particular relevance to each of these five issues.&nbsp;Charlie the Leader. As the founder and leader of Turning Point USA, he created one of the world's preeminent organizations for building future conservative leaders. The mission of TPUSA is "to identify, educate, train, and organize students to promote the principles of freedom, free markets, and limited government".Charlie the Doer. Few private individuals dedicated more time, energy, and support helping President Trump build a team to drive meaningful and constructive change, a government that serves the people—not a people that serve the government. In short order, this administration has already tackled and made dramatic progress in addressing challenges many nations see as the most consequential of their time including combating illegal immigration, securing borders, and delivering reliable, abundant, and dependable energy. This has become an example of governance many around the world want to follow.Charlie the Communicator. &nbsp;Through his podcast, television appearances, and campus rallies Charlie set the standard of a master communicator with credible, understandable, actionable messages that articulated the conservative promise to millions all over America and the world.&nbsp;Charlie the Evangelist. His life and work were a testament to the truth that responsible politics and deep honest faith are two sides of the same coin for building a better world. Charlie bridged many communities, reminding them that their common humanity was more important than their policy differences. The modern conservative movement does not stride for, nor will it succeed, by demanding loyalty to a particular orthodoxy. Rather, we are bound by a common vision and acknowledge the only path to common action is a willingness to honestly debate and dialogue and then act as our conscience dictates.Charlie the Friend. No leader in the conservative movement did more to bring people together, to mentor others, to help when needed, to build networks, bridges, instill trust and confidence, and to truly act on the belief that a "rising tide lifts all boats." This axiom explains why people flocked to Charlie and the conservative movement.Conservatives around the world have not responded to the political assassination of Charlie Kirk with fear or anger. Rather, they have turned their eyes upward and prayed, "Lord send me." &nbsp;With this letter, we affirm committing our time and talents, to living the example of a good life that Charlie has taught us all. Our work is just beginning.Signed,Matthew BoyseMikkel Bjørn, Member of the Danish Parliament, Danish Peoples PartyKiele A. CabreraDr. James Jay CarafanoEnri Çeno, Albanian Conservative Institute, International Law and Liberty AlbaniaMark Crawford, Republicans OverseasMariana DeanAna Irene DelgadoChristopher DeMuthEllen Fantini, The European Conservative&nbsp;Alvino-Mario Fantini, The European ConservativeFederico N. Fernández, Fundación Internacional BasesMelissa FordJorge Martín FríasFrancesco GiubileiElio A. Gallego, Director of CEU-CEFAS, SpainVictor GonzalezDaniel GoureEdith HarxhiMatias Jove, Executive Director, Cuba en TransicionNikola Kedhi, Albanian Conservative InstituteLindita Komani, Albanian Conservative InstituteGiorgi LabadzeAlice Galván López, President of Fundación Patria UnidaAndres LuDr. Gordon R. Middleton, Director of Strategic Intelligence Program, Patrick Henry CollegeDiana Mjeshtri, Albanian Policy CenterDr. Henry R. Nau, Professor EmeritusFernando Nistal, Executive Director of CEU-CEFAS, SpainJulián Obiglio, President, Unión de Partidos LatinoamericanosDavid Oldroyd-Bolt, Anglosphere Fellow, The Danube InstituteDr. Andrew Peek &nbsp;Sergio de la Peña, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Western Hemisphere AffairsDr. Mary Prentice&nbsp;Lucas Robertson, Vice Chairman Konservativa FörbundetHon. Dennis A. Ross, Former Member of Congress, FL15, 2011-2019Allen Roth, President Secure America NowPasquale RussoCarla SandsDaniele Scalea, Machiavelli Foundation, ItalyDan Schneider, Vice President, The Media Research CenterJoseph Schneider, President, JSA Partners, IncJorge Soley, Head of International Relations of CEU-CEFAS, SpainJuan A. Soto, Founder &amp; CEO of FortiusGreg Swenson, Chairman, Republicans Overseas UKFrancisco Tudela, Former Vice President of PeruMatthew Tyrmand, &nbsp;OpenTheBooksGovernor Scott Walker, President, Young America’s FoundationScott Winton, Chair, Ben Franklin Fellowship Recruitment Working GroupSusan Yoshihara&nbsp;Mario Bramnick, Latino Coalition for IsraelMarkus Johansson, Danube Institute Fellow&nbsp;Katie Hagström&nbsp;Paul Zaky&nbsp;Lars Singsdal, Norwegian Association for all Conservative StudentsStig Even Lillestøl, MP Progress Party Norway&nbsp;Jesper Nilsen, NorwayWitold De ChevillyLucas Robertson, Vice Chairman Konservativa Förbundet&nbsp;Hannes Kirchbaumer, SYNTAGMA StrategiesEwa Andryjalowicz, M.A., German Parliament, and a Fellow of the Leadership Academy at The Heritage FoundationSteven Hecht, Editor at Large, Impunity ObserverAsociación la Familia Importa (AFI Guatemala)Gina de Tobar, Centro de Ayuda para la Muner&nbsp; Lily de Escalante, Hogar María IsabelNorma de Handal, Centro de Formación Catalina de Siena Luisa Portal, Generación ProVidaJulia Regina de Cardenal, Fundación Sí a la Vida in El Salvador Nicola Procaccini, President of New DirectionMaicol Pizzicotti Busilacchi, International Secretary of Gioventù Nazionale (Italy)

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Statement on Defending the Transatlantic Community from C...

The Inspiration, Leadership and Legacy of Charlie Kirk