The European Union in the Indo-Pacific: Gauging the EU's Indo-Pacific Strategy Across Eight Indo-Pacific Locations

Abstract

This article offers a macro-overview of the reception and effectiveness of the European Union's (EU) Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS) released in April 2021. Drawing on research conducted across eight Indo-Pacific locations—Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand—the study involved 111 semi-structured interviews with foreign policy decision-makers and influencers, supplemented by policy sandpit workshops in each location. The research reveals that while the EU maintains strong bilateral relationships across the Indo-Pacific and is positively viewed in all examined locations, its effectiveness as a strategic actor remains constrained. The EU demonstrates specific credibility in three key areas: climate action, economic engagement and digital governance. However, significant weaknesses persist most notably the EU's perceived limited capacity in security and defence matters—the dominant concern in Indo-Pacific geopolitics. The research also highlights challenges stemming from the Indo-Pacific's inherent heterogeneity and limited awareness of the IPS itself among key stakeholders. Based on these findings, the article proposes two potential pathways forward: an evolutionary approach focusing on core strengths through a revised IPS 2.0 and a revolutionary approach abandoning the overarching strategy in favour of strengthening bilateral engagement. The analysis underscores the importance of aligning the EU's self-conception with regional expectations.