Europe's Security Role in the Indo-Pacific: Making It Meaningful

 

U.S. Engagement and European Perspectives

U.S. engagement toward Europe has been effective in highlighting the growing economic challenge posed by China in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. This alignment of European perspectives and approaches to the Indo-Pacific, although uneven across European capitals, has made the rising economic challenge posed by China a major focus of transatlantic discussions. However, the picture is less clear on defense and security issues, with little consensus or focus from Washington on how Europe should deepen its engagement with countries in the Indo-Pacific.

Unfocused Engagement and Security Challenges

The lack of focused engagement and occasional mixed messages from Washington raises important questions: What security role should the United States seek for Europe in the Indo-Pacific? Can European partners make a meaningful contribution to deterrence and contingency response in the region, and if so, how?

Europe's Interest in the Indo-Pacific

This report finds that Europe has a significant interest in upholding a free and open Indo-Pacific and can contribute to regional security in targeted ways. The deepening cooperation and engagement between Moscow and Beijing underscores that security in Europe and the Indo-Pacific are linked. Therefore, a deeper European role in Indo-Pacific security would be a welcome development and should be encouraged by Washington.

Constraints and Priorities for Europe

Yet, Europe’s role in the region in the near term is constrained by its limited military means and by the direct and intensifying challenge posed by Russia. Europe’s priority should therefore be to ensure its own security in the face of the Russian threat and to build the capacity to enable the United States to shift focus and respond effectively in the event of a military contingency or crisis with China.