“THE FUTURES OF THE EU AND THE INDO-PACIFIC ARE INTERLINKED” Exploring the EU’s role(s) in the Indo-Pacific

Abstract

The European Union (EU) has significant economic and security interests in the Indo-Pacific, which hosts one of the world’s most vital trade routes. However, geopolitical challenges in the Indo-Pacific, including a lack of respect for the rules-based international order, land and maritime disputes, unfair trade practices, and the US-China rivalry, have prompted global actors to adapt their roles to navigate complex geopolitical landscape. The EU, a long-standing trade actor in the region, has also emerged as a security actor. Moreover, the emergence of the EU security role has been reflected through its Indo Pacific strategy, which attracted scholarly attention as these strategies highlight the EU’s security approach, including member states’ deployment of military vessels in the Indo-Pacific oceans. This phenomenon raises a fundamental question: How should we conceive these roles? Are these roles in conflict or convergence? This study employs role theory, focusing on master and auxiliary roles, which help us understand the dynamics of the EU’s roles in the Indo-Pacific. The analysis is guided by the framework of qualitative content analysis, allowing the study to uncover the roles and responsibilities the EU perceives for itself in the Indo-Pacific. The findings suggest that the EU perceives of its role as a promoter of stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region. The findings also reveal a trade-security nexus pattern in the EU’s roles in the Indo-Pacific.