From Strategy into Reality: How to Implement the EU’s Indo-Pacific Strategy?

Second edition of the lecture series "European Strategic Dialogue"
December 15, 2021, 6:30 - 8 p.m. CET

The publication of the EU’s Indo-Pacific strategy on 16 September was overshadowed by the tri-lateral defense pact between The publication of the EU’s Indo-Pacific strategy on September 16 was overshadowed by AUKUS, the tri-lateral defense pact between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Designed to foster a rules-based international order, the EU strategy concept directs at cooperation, not confrontation. It aims at increasing the EU’s involvement in ocean governance, as well as digital connectivity projects, forging stronger economic ties, and safeguarding liberal and democratic values. France, Germany, and the Netherlands – all of them have drawn up national Indo-Pacific strategies in recent years – played a key role in the EU’s effort to find a more decisive approach to this distant but vital region. However, it will now require more than a strong push from the three countries to ensure that the EU implements a long-term strategy in the Indo-Pacific. How to turn this strategy into reality, regarding the indifference of many member states? How to generate new partnerships between Europe and Indo-Pacific countries? What role will the China factor play, both economically and militarily? And how the EU, the US, and the UK can work together to advance their shared interests in the region?

Introduction
Prof. Dr. Joachim Koops
Chair of Security Studies and Scientific Director of the Institute of Security and Global Affairs, Leiden University

Panel
Dr. Antoine Bondaz
Research Fellow at the Fondation pour la Recherche Stratégique (FRS) and Associate Professor at Sciences Po Paris

Dr. Daniel Fiott
Security and Defence Editor at the EU Institute for Security Studies (EUISS)

Dr. Frans-Paul van der Putten
Senior Research Fellow at the Clingendael Institute, Coordinator of the Clingendael China Centre

Dr. Felix Heiduk
Senior Associate at German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), Berlin

Moderation
Sophie Vériter
Doctoral Researcher, Institute of Security and Global Affairs, Leiden University

“European Strategic Dialogue” is a continuing series of webinars which is being organized in cooperation with the Institute of Security and Global Affairs (ISGA) at Leiden University, the Institut français des Pays-Bas, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, and the Center for Advanced Security, Strategic and Integration Studies (CASSIS) at the University of Bonn.

This event was held in English.

[konfunable]

48:00 It is good there is less and less naivety in the EU, but Lithuania still seems to be left to fight alone against China. Curious if there is anything happening behind the curtains maybe?