Ben Schreer
In recent years, several European states have stepped up their defence engagement in the Indo-Pacific. France and the United Kingdom – both long-term players in Indo-Pacific security – have expanded their regional deployments and supported other initiatives designed to strengthen regional defence capabilities. Germany has increased its participation in regional military exercises and pledged to strengthen its regional defence engagement. European defence ministers, including those of France, Germany, the Netherlands, Ukraine and – for the first time – Sweden, attended and spoke at the 2023 IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, the region’s premier gathering of defence leaders. A strong European contingent is also expected at this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue, taking place 31 May–2 June.
European states’ efforts to establish closer defence ties in the Indo-Pacific are driven by several considerations, including an understanding that Indo-Pacific and European geopolitical challenges are increasingly enmeshed; growing concerns over China’s assertiveness and Beijing’s support for Russia’s war against Ukraine; an awareness of the need to demonstrate to Washington that Europe takes the China challenge seriously in order to ensure United States defence commitments in Europe; and an interest in profiting from growing regional defence-procurement dynamics.
No comments:
Post a Comment