The US-Europe-China Triangle Under Pressure

In-Person
Roundtable
Evan Medeiros, Rachel Ellehuus, and Leslie Vinjamuri discuss how trade and security are shifting the balance of power between the United States, Europe, and China.
European Council President Antonio Costa walks away from Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the European Council building in Brussels, Belgium on July 2, 2025.
Oct
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Virginia Mayo / AP
Speakers
Evan Medeiros
Rachel Ellehuus
Leslie Vinjamuri
Date and Time
Doors Open: 2:45 pm
Location
Chicago Council Offices at 130 East Randolph Street, Suite 1650
Who Can Attend

REGISTRATION

This event is invitation-only. Invites are non-transferable. For further information, please reach out to Nancy Callahan at ncallahan@globalaffairs.org.

About This Event

The relationship between the United States, Europe, and China has been defined by strategic competition and necessary cooperation between the three powers. Now, an unpredictable, noncommittal American administration and a deepening partnership between China and Russia are putting Europe in an uncomfortable position between Washington and Beijing. In this private roundtable, Council Distinguished Nonresident Fellow on China Evan Medeiros and Director-General of the Royal United Services Institute Rachel Ellehuus join Council President and CEO Leslie Vinjamuri to explore how the current moment is shaping the trilateral dynamic. What are China's ambitions with respect to Europe and the United States? How are Europe and the United States navigating their relationship with China? And is Washington really prepared to trade off trust with its European and Asian allies for a transactional set of relationships?

Participation is limited and by invitation only.

About the Speakers
Evan Medeiros
Penner Family Chair in Asia Studies, Georgetown University; Former Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Asia, National Security Council; Distinguished Nonresident Fellow, China, Chicago Council on Global Affairs
Headshot of Evan Medeiros
Evan S. Medeiros is Distinguished Nonresident Fellow on China at the Council and also a professor and director of Asian Studies at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service. He served for six years on the staff of the National Security Council from 2009-2015, working on Asian affairs.
Headshot of Evan Medeiros
Rachel Ellehuus
Director-General, Royal United Services Institute
Rachel Ellehuus Headshot
Rachel joined RUSI after serving nearly three years at the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) as the United States Secretary of Defense Representative in Europe and Defense Advisor to the United States’ Mission to NATO. Prior to that, she was Deputy Director of the Europe and Eurasia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, DC and a Senior Advisor at WestExec Advisors.
Rachel Ellehuus Headshot
Leslie Vinjamuri
President & Chief Executive Officer, Chicago Council on Global Affairs
Leslie Vinjamuri headshot
Dr. Leslie Vinjamuri joined the Council in 2025 as the president and chief executive officer, after previously serving as director of the US and the Americas program at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, known as Chatham House, in London. She is Professor of Practice in International Studies and Diplomacy at SOAS University of London.
Leslie Vinjamuri headshot
Attend In-Person Invitation-only
Issues US Foreign Policy
Regions China Europe
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