EU’S Engagement with the Indo-Pacific: Trade and Technology Council with India and Digital Partnership Agreements with Japan, Republic of Korea and Singapore

This chapter explores the European Union’s strategic engagement with the Indo-Pacific on digital policy, highlighting its efforts to build partnerships with key regional players like Japan, South Korea, Singapore and India. Recognising the Indo-Pacific’s centrality in global technology and security, the EU has fostered Digital Partnership Agreements (DPAs) and the EU-India Trade and Technology Council (TTC) to enhance cooperation on digital trade, data security and technology standards. This chapter investigates these frameworks’ governance structures and key deliverables, including initiatives in Artificial Intelligence, data privacy and undersea cable resilience. It also examines the EU’s ambition to “multilateralise” digital diplomacy through alliances in the G7, ASEAN and other regional frameworks. Addressing emerging challenges like economic security, digital trade and critical infrastructure, the EU seeks to shape a secure, democratic, digital landscape in the Indo-Pacific, aligning its engagement with boarder goals of sustainable development and strategic autonomy.