China’s leverage rests on its near-monopoly of rare-earth supply chains. It accounts for 70% of the ores dug up, over 90% of the refined material and nine-tenths of the magnets made from them. It has consolidated the industry into a handful of national champions and developed a tracing system to follow every tonne of rare earths.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says the European Union can be an “alternative to imperialism and autocracy” and can forge deals with like-minded partners in a world of increasing great power rivalry.

Europe’s nationalist leaders once saw President Trump as an ideological ally. Now, as he threatens European sovereignty, they are seeking distance — at least for the moment.

By Sarah Marsh and Matthias Williams BERLIN, Jan 29 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday said Europe had found "self-respect" in standing up for a rules-based global order, and called for a stronger NATO within Europe while still extending the hand of cooperation to the United States.

BEV sales jumped nearly 30 percent in Europe last year, but hybrids remained dominant as diesel and petrol models lost ground

President Donald Trump’s Greenland gambit alarmed Europe’s mainstream and has even led some nationalist leaders – once proud of their ties to Trump – to distance themselves from him.

By Andreas Rinke and Barbara Erling BERLIN, Jan 28 (Reuters) - Ministers from six leading European economies, including Germany and France, will discuss on Wednesday plans to push ahead with joint projects without the rest of the EU,