Borrell: Developments in Indo-Pacific occasion to develop EU strategic autonomy

Photo: EPA-EFE / ARIS OIKONOMOU / POOL

Coincidentally or not, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell presented the EU strategy for the Indo-Pacific this afternoon, hours after the announcement of a US-British-Australian defense alliance in the region, MIA reports from Brussels.

The trilateral alliance, called Aucus, aims to limit China's influence in the Indo-Pacific, but no EU member state has been invited to join the initiative, which has sparked outrage, especially in France. Namely, Australia was supposed to procure nuclear submarines from Paris, but the agreement was canceled at the last minute by Canberra in favor of the alliance with London and Washington.

For many, the creation of an alliance without the presence of the EU is another signal of US distrust of Europeans.

But the head of European diplomacy at today's press conference decided to act with optimism.

He listed all areas of co-operation between the EU and the Indo-Pacific, and stressed that the European Union is the largest investor in the region, far ahead of the United States, China and Japan, with 12 trillion euros in investment. Josep Borrell also pointed out that 40% of EU trade is done with the Indo-Pacific.

The European Union, he added, is determined to defend its values ​​and interests in the region despite this unfortunate development, and the topic will be on the agenda of EU foreign ministers very soon.

"History will take place in the Indo-Pacific region in this century, it is a very important part of the world for us, there is the future, the center of the world in geo-economic and geopolitical terms is moving there," Borrell said this afternoon. added that it is in the EU 's interest to keep shipping areas free.

He acknowledged that today's announcement of the Aucus alliance was a blow to the EU, but also that it should be a challenge for the EU to work more intensively on its own autonomy.

- This alliance only emphasizes the importance of the Indo-Pacific for our security, our economic capability, I can not say that I am happy with the coincidence of this day, but I want to take this opportunity to say how timely this is, I understand that the French government is disappointed , but we need to increase our presence in the region, said the EU foreign policy chief.

Borrell said he was aware that not all EU countries attach equal importance to the region.

- This forces us to strengthen our thinking about our strategic autonomy, I know that not all member states feel engaged in the Indo-Pacific, but these events serve in some way to awaken the Europeans that it is time to take initiatives themselves, and that we should to work together for a coordinated presence, added the head of European diplomacy.

He added that this does not negatively affect the EU's relations with Australia, which will remain a key partner in the region for Europe.

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