Europe’s Indo-Pacific embrace: Global partnerships for regional resilience
By Perth USAsia Centre and Konrad Adenauer Foundation
The Indo-Pacific’s centrality to 21st century geopolitics has long been recognised by those in the region. However, as the Indo-Pacific evolves economically and strategically, its importance is increasingly recognised by those outside the region, whose desires for global prosperity and security demand closer engagement with Indo-Pacific dynamics. Foremost amongst these are European governments.
Understanding how European and Indo-Pacific actors will interact with the region is vital to all concerned. There is a need for increased knowledge of where European and Indo-Pacific interests are best-placed to cooperate with one another, on which issues, and through which channels.
Edited by Perth USAsia Centre Policy Fellow James Bowen, this report seeks to locate Europe within the 21st Century Indo-Pacific, analysing how European governments can most effectively engage with Indo-Pacific partners. It highlights the Indo-Pacific approaches of five European powers: the EU, France, Germany, Netherlands and the UK, and how these approaches intersect with those of Japan, Australia, India, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and the United States.
On 7 October, the Perth USAsia Centre and Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung hosted a webinar to officially launch the report.
James Bowen, Policy Fellow and editor of the report, moderated a panel discussion between chapter authors Veerle Nouwens, Lynn Kuok, and Rory Medcalf. Topics covered included the UK’s tilt to the Indo-Pacific in pursuit of a balanced approach to China, ASEAN’s embrace of European approaches to the region, and optimising Australia’s partnership with Europe in ways that are smart on diplomacy.