The Third Corner Strategy

The Third Corner Strategy challenges the conventional wisdom that a solid Sino-Russian “no-limits” front leaves the European Union without room for strategic maneuver. It argues that the EU can act as a “third-corner strategist,” exploiting the real, actionable divergences between Beijing and Moscow to advance its own interests and autonomy. Through systematic analysis of three key case studies—Central Asian infrastructure, Arctic governance, and natural gas pricing—the book demonstrates that the EU possesses unique economic and regulatory leverage that can be deployed selectively to widen these cracks. The findings reveal a conditional success: the EU has achieved strong gains in Central Asia, moderate influence in the Arctic, and only indirect leverage in gas pricing, where internal divisions and American constraints are most pronounced. The book concludes with a robust theoretical framework and concrete policy recommendations for the EU to effectively navigate an increasingly competitive world.