India, Europe and the Rise of Asia

Abstract

The European Union has struggled to have an influence on Asia in areas other than trade and investment. Even the Asian conception of regionalism draws little from the EU example. The EU’s attempts to engage China with the idea of making it a responsible international player have been unsuccessful. Brussels’ post-sovereign world view has meant its engagement with democratic India has also been limited. At a time when US-China friction is resulting in a traditional geopolitical struggle across Asia, the EU is starting to move towards a limited return to realpolitik in its external policy. The recent EU strategy towards India, French and British military support for the US in the Indo Pacific, new Indian Ocean strategies by key European states and other straws in the wind are indicative of a more security conscious EU position on Asia.