The European External Action Service (EEAS) and the US Department of State announced the launch of the EU-US High-Level Dialogue on Security and Defence (see EUROPE 12741/3) on Friday evening.
The first meeting of this dialogue will be held in early 2022 with the participation of the US Departments of State and Defence and the European External Action Service, the European Commission and the European Defence Agency, as appropriate, the joint EEAS-State Department statement said.
In the statement, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed the “enduring partnership and shared commitments” of the US and the EU to transatlantic security and the resolution of common security challenges.
Mr Borrell and Mr Blinken were enthusiastic. They recognised the importance of a stronger and more effective European defence and recalled the need to develop coherent, complementary and interoperable capabilities. They also supported “as full as possible” US participation in EU defence initiatives.
The High Representative and the Secretary of State also pledged to continue working together to raise the level of ambition of EU-NATO cooperation.
Indo-Pacific Consultations
Earlier in the day, US Assistant Secretary of State Wendy R. Sherman and EEAS Secretary General Stefano Sannino held their first consultations on the Indo-Pacific region in Washington (see EUROPE 12792/1).
While the EU was not consulted prior to the announcement of the Indo-Pacific Agreement (AUKUS) (see EUROPE 12795/4), both sides reaffirmed their intention to work together and with their partners towards a free and open Indo-Pacific that is inclusive, based on the rule of law and democratic values, and contributes to the stability, security and sustainable development of the region.
Ms Sherman and Mr Sannino affirmed their common goal of coordinating Indo-Pacific engagement and identified possible priority areas and immediate themes for cooperation, such as tackling the climate crisis, public health and pandemic response and preparedness, freedom of navigation and maritime safety, human rights, core labour standards, good governance, infrastructure, critical and emerging technologies, cyber security and countering disinformation.
They also reaffirmed the objective of the US and the EU to promote infrastructure development, expressing their intention to exchange best practices and identify areas of complementarity between existing US, EU, regional and multilateral infrastructure initiatives, including the Global Gateway presented on 1 December by the European Commission (see EUROPE 12844/7). (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)