New HCSS report: Partners and avenues for European engagement in Indo-Pacific maritime security

Europeans need to expand their cooperation with small and middle powers in the Indo-Pacific if they want to secure key maritime trade routes. However, most of these states are not natural partners for Europe, and differ in their capacities to contribute to maritime security and their political affinity with Europe. In a new HCSS report, strategic analysts Paul van Hooft , Benedetta Girardi , Alisa Hoenig and Giovanni Cisco examine where European states can strengthen their bilateral ties in the Indo-Pacific.

Focusing on small and middle powers close to key maritime chokepoints, the report does two things:

1. Based on relevance for maritime security and political affinity with European countries, it assesses the suitability of regional states as partners. The most interesting group are the “inbetweeners”, with whom cooperation can be fruitful but is not guaranteed.
2. It examines the bilateral relations between “inbetweeners”, and European states in security, trade and investment, and capacity-building. Through a final comparison with the involvement of China and the United States, the authors identify relative strengths and weaknesses of European countries.

The report recommends to strengthen European collaboration with more ambivalent Indo-Pacific states, focusing on trade and investment, and capacity-building in the short- to medium-term.

Europe has to make strategic choices to strengthen its role in the Indo-Pacific without overextending its capabilities. Regional small and middle powers differ in their suitability as partners for European countries. While some are clear allies, others are of low importance. What about the middle group of countries that share crucial interests with Europe but are not automatically aligned?

Europe can strategically divide partnerships in the Indo-Pacific. France and the UK already have well-developed defence ties....

.... while Germany and the Netherlands are strong on trade and investment. Italy and Spain, so far, have not developed substantial relationships in the region.

If Europe wants to contribute to maritime security in the Indo-Pacific, it needs to step up its game. US and Chinese engagement in the region far surpasses European involvement. In the short-term, Europe can gain the most from increasing trade and investment and cooperation on infrastructure.

This report is published by the HCSS Europe and the Indo-Pacific Hub (EIPH), and part of the series Guarding the Maritime Commons.