The Indo-Pacific taking centre-stage for the EU’s security policy

Abstract

The European Union is extending its long-standing engagement with the Asia-Pacific to the Indo-Pacific which is growing in importance in terms of economy, technology, as well as traditional and non-traditional security. This is evidenced by policy papers like the Indo-Pacific Strategy and its complement, the Global Gateway, embedded in the EU’s security doctrine, the Strategic Compass. While the Sino-US competition overshadows many conflicts, the regional hotspots Taiwan, South and East China Sea, the Korean Peninsula, border conflict between India and China and the situation in Myanmar are part of the threat scenario, in addition to the common global challenges like climate change and non-proliferation. The EU reaches out to its strategic partners Japan, South Korea, ASEAN, and India as well as to Australia and New Zealand to contribute to providing more security and stability. To this end, the EU and the US need to assure synergies between their Trans-Atlantic and Trans-Pacific relations. Security cooperation includes increasing resilience, in terms of supply and production chains, digitalisation and building circular economies while withstanding protectionism and nationalism. As a nascent global player, the EU is striving to sharpen its regional profile, also in hitherto uncovered hard security in flying the flag politically and militarily.