Representatives from the 27 EU Member States, some 20 countries in the Indo-Pacific region, the European Commission, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) met in Paris, on 22 February, for an Indo-Pacific Cooperation Forum. This event, organised at the initiative of the French Presidency of the Council of the EU (FPEU), reaffirmed the European Union’s ambition to strengthen the various partnerships in the area, as described in the strategy presented by the Commission in September 2021 (see EUROPE 12792/1).
On the other hand, for the French Foreign Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, it is not a question of creating a logic of blocs and confrontation with other powers in the region, such as China. Moreover, if the latter was not invited to the forum, it is “because there is already a channel of dialogue between the EU and China. This forum was not the right place”, according to Jean-Yves Le Drian.
This being said, several speakers insisted, during the opening address of the forum, on the threats to the region from powers that do not respect international rules. “We want to help us escape from the dependency in which strategies of control could lock us or the Indo-Pacific states into compulsory partnerships”, pointed out the French Foreign Minister.
The forum reaffirmed the commitment to enhanced cooperation in a number of areas: security, connectivity, the fight against global warming, digital, trade links and health.
Security and Defence. “We will intensify the dialogue on security and defence, the fight against terrorism and cyber security. We will strive for a safe, free and open sea route”, Mr Borrell summarised. According to Jean-Yves Le Drian, the participants underlined the extension of the EU Crimario programme on critical maritime routes to the Pacific island states and the extension of the concept of a ‘coordinated maritime presence’ in the north-western Indian Ocean - announced the previous day by the European Union (see EUROPE 12895/6).
Mr Le Drian announced that France would participate. “We have sensed a demand from our partners to secure the maritime routes and we want to make our contribution to peace and stability in the region through this reinforced, but above all coordinated, presence”, he explained.
On his arrival at the forum, the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs, Yoshimasa Hayashi, said that efforts to ensure maritime security were “essential to promote stability”, welcoming an increased European presence in the region.
Connectivity. Participants from the Indo-Pacific side welcomed the European ‘Global Gateway’ initiative (see EUROPE 12844/7). For Josep Borrell, “we need to mobilise the necessary funding to make this connectivity productive”.
Trade. Mr Borrell recalled that the EU wanted to work towards concluding negotiations for a trade agreement with Australia, Indonesia and New Zealand and to resume trade negotiations with India (see EUROPE 12716/4). The conclusion of an agreement with five countries of the East African Community, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand is also on the European agenda. Finally, the EU is still exploring the possibility of a free trade agreement with ASEAN, with which it has already upgraded its relationship to an enhanced strategic partnership in December 2020.
Myanmar. In addition, participants expressed concern about the situation in Myanmar after the military coup of February 2021 (see EUROPE 12895/3, 12881/2). “The current political and security crisis in Myanmar is one of the most complex regional issues. There is no simple solution. This requires a sincere commitment from all sides”, said Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant and Léa Marchal)