The EU as a Geopolitical Player: A Distant Ambition? Exploring EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Strategy

This chapter explores the European Union (EU) Indo-Pacific strategy, scrutinizing how the EU equips itself to ensure effective positioning within the region. While political discourse frames the geopolitical Commission as the new guideline for EU foreign policy, the Indo-Pacific represents a crucial focal point to assess its efficiency given its specific requirements. The chapter argues that the Indo-Pacific demands a multichannel approach to address the variety of stakeholders in the region, emphasizing the need to enhance EU capabilities in terms of inclusive economic integration and security issues. Drawing on a comprehensive literature review, it underscores the strategic shift of the EU towards the Indo-Pacific and delves into numerous diplomatic attempts by the EU to be recognized as a key stakeholder in the region. However, it also highlights the weaknesses in the EU’s approach to the region and discusses some of its features that might lead to suboptimal positioning. The chapter concludes that the EU Indo-Pacific strategy is in its early stages, requiring profound structural changes for effective implementation. Ultimately, it provides key insights into the need for the EU’s geopolitical commitment to extend beyond mere rhetoric.