Japan’s Changing Perception of the European Union as a Security Provider in the Indo-Pacific: Basic Motivations and Renewed Interests

For Japan, European security has long been seen as distinct from East Asian security issues. General indifference to European security, coupled with the image of NATO as the provider of European security and little presence of the European Union (EU) in the scenes of Asian security, makes it even harder for the policymakers to comprehend the EU as a relevant actor in the Indo-Pacific. However, Tokyo’s assessments have changed significantly. The shift of the geo-economic centre of gravity to Asia, as well as the growing alertness in Europe on China’s strategic challenges, have made the EU focus on the Indo-Pacific. For Japan, the EU’s wider presence and engagements on non-traditional security challenges is a significant development. Russia’s war in Ukraine has necessitated greater cooperation. China’s growing belligerence on Taiwan has rendered deepening security relations with the like-minded partners including the EU a priority for Japan. Cooperation on intelligence sharing, provision of economic and military assistance to safeguard sea lanes in the Indian Ocean, enforcing sanctions against China in case of unilateral use of force are some focus areas of security cooperation.