观察家研究基金会-对欧盟印太战略的评估（英）-2021.11-20正式版.docx

三nr能薪器xlvlFolndaticIssueBriefISSUENO.504NOVEMBER2021©2021ObserverResearchFoundation.Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproduced,copied,archived,retainedortransmittedthroughprint,speechorelectronicmediawithoutpriorwrittenapprovalfromORF.©RFAnAssessmentoftheEuropeanUnion,sIndo-PacificStrategyGirishLuthraAbstractThenewIndo-PacificstrategybytheEuropeanUnion(EU)followspreviousmeasurestoincreaseengagementwiththeregionintheeconomic,securityandconnectivitydomains.TheplanindicatesaclearintenttopositiontheEUintheemergingglobalandregionalgovernancestructures,focusingonstrategicautonomy,inclusivity,therules-basedorder,andcommonpublicgoods.Implementingtheactionplanbasedonthestrategyislikelytofacenumerouschallenges,includingevolvingandsustainingconsensusonitwithintheEU.Nevertheless,itholdspromiseincontributingtothestabilityanddevelopmentoftheIndo-Pacific.Attribution:GirishLuthra,uAnAssessmentoftheEuropeanUnion'sIndo-PacificStrategy,"ORFIssueBriefNo.504,November2021,ObserverResearchFoundation.nApril2021,theEuropeanUnion(EU)releasedthe'EUStrategyforCooperationintheIndo-Pacific,'adocumentoutliningacooperationplanwiththelndo-Pacific.ThestrategydefinestheregionasextendingfromtheeastcoastofAfricatothePacificIslandStates.ThisdiffersfromtheAmericanandAustralianconceptualisationoftheIndo-PacificasstretchingfromthewestcoastoftheUStothewesternshoresofIndia,andtheJapanese,FrenchandtheIndianinterpretationsthatseeitasextendingfromtheshoresofAfricatothatoftheAmericas.?Notwithstandingsuchinterpretations,theEU,sstrategyhassignalledaclearintenttoreorientthegrouping'sgeopoliticaloutlookandprovideguidanceforenhancedengagementwiththeIndo-Pacific.TheEuropeanCommissionandtheEUHighRepresentative/VicePresidentwererequestedtopresentafinalcommunicationforapprovalbasedontheproposedstrategy,whichwassubsequentlyreleasedon16September2021throughajointcommunicationtotheEuropeanParliamentandtheEuropeanCouncilthatoutlinedtherationaleforadeeperengagementwiththeIndo-Pacificandthekeyprinciplesthatwillguideit.3Abroadactionplantoimplementthestrategywasalsoincludedinthejointcommunication.WhileFrance,GermanyandtheNetherlandsalreadyhadguidelinesandstrategydocumentsfortheIndo-Pacific,4theEU-wideumbrellastrategyisamajordevelopment.ItemphasisesthatEuropeaneconomicprosperityandtheEU,svisionofitsroleinamultipolarworldisstronglylinkedtotheIndo-Pacificregion.ItisanacknowledgementbyBrusselsoftheevolvinggeopoliticalrealities,andmarksarebalancefromthepreviousfocusonEasternEurope,theCaucasus,theLevantandNorthAfriCa.5TheguidancedocumentexplicitlyoutlinesawidespectrumofpotentialengagementwithcountriesintheIndoPacific,withamoveawayfromanexclusivefocusontradeandinvestmentbasedpartnerships.Nevertheless,thenewstrategydocumentfortheIndo-PacificmustbeseeninthecontextoftheEU,sforeignandsecuritypolicyevolution.Withinthisbroadframework,thispaperwilloutlinethedistinctivefeaturesoftheEU,sIndoPacificstrategy,keyimperativesdrivingtheapproach,andthepotentialchallengesinitsimplementation.TL.heEU,sexternalpolicieshaveevolvedgraduallysincethegrouping'sformationin1993,bringininincreasedinternalcohesion.In2016,theEUpromulgatedtheEuropeanUnionGlobalStrategy(EUGS)1whichreplacetheEuropeanSecurityStrategy(adoptedin2003.TheEUGShighlightedtheimportanceofstrategicautonomyfortheEUandstressedtheneedtoenhanceitscredibilityasaglobalplayer.Keyaspectscoveredweretoimproveinternalandexternalsecurity;stabilisefragilestatesontheEU,sperimeter;developanintegratedapproachtoconflictandcrises;promotepeaceandintegration;displayacommitmenttomultilateralsystems;andpromotesustainabledevelopmentandrespectforhumanrights.6Inaddition,thestrategyexplicitlyhighlightedthedirectconnectionbetweenEuropeanprosperityandAsiansecuritysinceEuropeantradeandinvestmentinAsiadependedonstabilityintheregion.TheprogressoftheEUGShasbeenreviewedthroughannualimplementationreports,andtherehavebeencallstodevelopandpromulgateanewstrategyalignedmorewiththechangingenvironmentandchallenges.?Around80percentofthegoodsenteringtheEUtransitthroughtheIndianOcean,andhencethesecurityoftransitroutes,freedomofnavigationandtheruleoflawarecriticalforthegrouping.8TheEuropeanUnionMaritimeSecurityStrategy(EUMSS)wasadoptedinJune2014aftermuchdeliberation,withanactionplanagreeduponinDecember2014underfivekeyareas:maritimeawareness;capabilitydevelopment;riskmanagement,protectionofcriticalmaritimeinfrastructure,andcrisisresponse;researchandinnovation;andeducationandtrainingsTheactionplanwasrevisedinJune2018toincluderegionalresponsestoglobalchallengesinthemaritimedomain.TheEUMSSanditsattendantactionplanshadasignificantroleinmainstreamingmaritimeaspects,withmaritimesecurityaccordedhighpriority,inEUpoliciesandengagementwithotherregions,particularlythewesternIndianOcean.SecurityCooperationInthepost-ColdWarperiod,theEUdrewcomfortfromarepurposedNorthAtlanticTreatyOrganization(NATO)andlimiteditssecuritycooperationindistantregions.ItsawprincipalthreatsfromarevanchistRussia,Islamist