European bloc looking to strengthen partnerships at the EU Indo-Pacific Forum

Key Concepts

• Indo-Pacific Forum: A meeting hosted by the EU to strengthen partnerships with countries in Asia, Africa, and the Pacific.
• Trusted and Reliable Partner: The EU's stated aim for its role in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Rules-Based International Order: The international system governed by established norms and laws, which officials believe is under threat.
• Multilateralism: Cooperation among multiple countries on international issues.
• Regionalism: Cooperation within specific geographic regions.
• Hybrid Attacks: A combination of conventional and unconventional tactics, including cyber warfare and disinformation, used to destabilize a target.
• Critical Infrastructure: Essential systems and assets that support a country's economy and security, such as undersea cables.
• Supply Chain Diversification: Spreading sourcing and production across multiple countries to reduce reliance on a single source.

EU's Fourth Indo-Pacific Forum: Strengthening Partnerships Beyond Europe

Senior officials and diplomats from Asia, Africa, and the Pacific convened in Brussels for the European Union's fourth Indo-Pacific forum. The primary objective of this summit, notably without the US or China as invited guests, is for the EU to establish itself as a "trusted and reliable partner."

Geopolitical Alliances and Shared Challenges

The forum highlighted a consensus among participating nations regarding shared challenges and the increasing imperative for strategic cooperation.

• Threat to World Order: Germany's Foreign Minister emphasized that heightened competition between major global powers poses a threat to the international rules-based order. This underscores the need for expanded partnerships and strategic cooperation.
• Global Order Manipulation: High Representative Josep Borrell claimed that both China and Russia are actively seeking to alter the global order in economic and security spheres, advocating for increased cooperation to counter this.
• Shared Security Concerns: Beyond direct threats from Russia, the EU urged Indo-Pacific nations to increase support for Ukraine. The discussion also encompassed shared security concerns such as hybrid attacks, cyber attacks, and threats to critical infrastructure, including undersea cables. In response, a new initiative was proposed by Borrell.

Economic Goals: Trade and Investment

The EU's economic agenda at the forum focused on deepening trade and investment ties with the Indo-Pacific region.

• Opportunity Amidst Multilateralism's Threat: Indonesia's representative noted that with multilateralism under threat, there is a greater need for regionalism and inter-bloc cooperation. This sentiment supports the idea of deepening economic ties between ASEAN and the EU, as well as other Indo-Pacific partnerships.
• Bilateral Free Trade Agreements: The EU is actively pursuing bilateral free trade agreements. Progress is noted with India, potentially by the end of the year. A free trade agreement with Indonesia was finalized this year, and a digital cooperation agreement with Singapore was signed in the spring.
• Supply Chain Diversification: High Representative Borrell stressed the need to diversify supply chains, particularly in light of trade tensions, especially with China.
• Concerns on Exploitation: Singapore's Foreign Minister, Vivian Balakrishnan, cautioned against Indo-Pacific nations becoming proxies in security disputes or being exploited for their raw materials. He advocated for a focus on deepening trade cooperation partnerships instead.

Conclusion and Key Takeaways

The EU's fourth Indo-Pacific forum served as a platform for the bloc to assert its role as a reliable partner in a world facing geopolitical shifts and threats to the established international order. Key takeaways include:

• The EU aims to strengthen its strategic partnerships in the Indo-Pacific by emphasizing shared challenges and the need for cooperation.
• There is a recognized threat to the rules-based international order, prompting calls for increased geopolitical alliances.
• Economic objectives include deepening trade ties through bilateral agreements and diversifying supply chains to mitigate risks associated with global trade tensions.
• Concerns were raised about avoiding proxy conflicts and ensuring equitable partnerships that benefit the Indo-Pacific region.