What are the prospects for the Indian Ocean Strategy?

Recently, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi (USSH, VNU) coordinated with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (Germany) to organize a scientific workshop on "EU Indo-Pacific Strategy" to evaluate the implementation of the Strategy since its official announcement in September 2021.

According to experts, the EU needs to develop its own policy orientation based on strategic autonomy and prioritize establishing a crucial balance in its engagement with the Indo-Pacific region. (Source: PARCOM)

Held online, the Workshop also aimed to assess the prospects for the future implementation of this EU Strategy.

The workshop is part of the three-year research project (2021-2023) “The European Union’s approach to cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region: From strategy to practice” to explore the EU's approach to international cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and its implications for countries in the region, conducted by the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU in collaboration with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Germany in Vietnam.

The profound changes in the global economic and geopolitical landscape after the Covid-19 pandemic have had a significant impact on the implementation of the EU’s Indo-Pacific Strategy. In addition, the views and policy responses of key regional actors have also contributed to shaping this international strategy of the EU.

So what are the prospects for the future of the EU's relations with this strategically, economically and geopolitically important region? This is the question that prompted the research team to complete the third phase of the joint research project and organize the Workshop.

Opening the workshop, Dr. Detlef Briesen from Justus-Liebig University Giessen (Germany) – a key member of the research team – presented a summary of the main research results in phase 3 of the project. Specifically, the reports pointed out the strong movement towards a new multipolar world order and the EU needs a strategy to increase its global influence.

In that context, the EU needs to develop its own policy orientation based on strategic autonomy and prioritize establishing a crucial balance in its engagement with the Indo-Pacific region (according to an article by Prof. Margit Bussmann, Griefswald University, Germany).

Regarding specific areas in the EU's bilateral relations with countries in the Indo-Pacific region, the Reports focus on: The EU's focused connectivity strategy with the region to achieve maximum efficiency (Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Hong Hanh, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU); The potentials and strengths in the EU's economic cooperation with the region (Dr. Nguyen Van Dap, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU) and the complexity in the EU's value-focused approach when engaging in regional issues (Dr. Nguyen Thi Thuy Trang and Dr. Nguyen Thi My Hanh, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU).

In addition to commenting on the main research results and observations shared by the research team representatives, the Workshop then expanded the discussion on the views of key regional actors on the implementation of the EU strategy in the new context.

Professor Go Ito, Meiji University (Japan) said that the Indo-Pacific region is a complex security area and Japan can play an important role, while the EU's involvement in the region is only effective when it can resolve differences between member countries to implement a common policy.

The scientific workshop "EU's Indo-Pacific Strategy" was held online. (Source: USSH)

Commenting on Korea's viewpoint, Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU said: "The EU's Indo-Pacific Strategy is an opportunity for Korea to seek new international partners, in addition to traditional partners such as the US and Asian countries. Based on the foundation of previously established relationships, Korea will certainly aim to strengthen its current relationship with the EU but will have to face new challenges, from considering relations with partners to ensuring national security and economic development."

From India's perspective, Prof. Dr. Kumaresan Raja, Pondicherry University (India) commented that India's approach to the Indo-Pacific region focuses on the central role of ASEAN. This approach complements the EU's approach to the region, aiming to maintain political and social stability, the EU's fundamental goal is Asia. The EU also supports measures to support maintaining the region's high economic growth rate. The interests of India and the EU converge when both sides agree to build a partnership to strengthen the rules-based world order."

Concluding the workshop, Mr. Florian Feyerabend, Chief Representative of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in Vietnam, once again affirmed: "The Indo-Pacific has become the geopolitical center of attraction of the 21st century. This is a region geographically distant from the EU but is an important region for both the EU's prosperity and security. The EU's strategy recognizes the geostrategic and geopolitical importance of the Indo-Pacific in general and Southeast Asia in particular."

Research "The EU's approach to cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region: From strategy to practice" consists of 3 phases: Phase 1, implemented in 2021, analyzes the EU Strategy and some members for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and Vietnam's initial views; Phase 2, implemented in 2022, examines the views and reactions of important countries in the Indo-Pacific region to the EU Strategy; Phase 3, implemented in 2023, studies the impact of changes in the international situation on the implementation of the EU Strategy and the future prospects of EU cooperation in the region.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/trien-vong-nao-cho-chien-luoc-an-do-duong-thai-binh-duong-cua-eu-242464.html