Europe’s Involvement in the Indo-Pacific Region: Determined on Paper, Timid in Reality
Axel Berkofsky
Introduction
France adopted its Indo-Pacific strategy in 2018, Germany in 2020 and the EU in 2021. None of this comes a minute too soon as geo-political and geoeconomic competition in the Indo-Pacific Region is here to stay and rapidly intensifying. Much of this is due to China’s belligerent actions, for instance, its efforts in building civilian and military facilities on disputed islands in the South China Sea or turning the Indian Ocean into a ‘Chinese lake’, as policymakers in New Delhi fear. Amidst such postures, what role is Europe poised to play in the Indo-Pacific security landscape? Does it plan on taking a leadership role in the region?
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