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OPINION MAY 05, 2023 | The Indian Eye 14

along with the US, also entered into a
nuclear submarine deal, AUKUS, in
September 2021. HMS Queen Eliz-
abeth aircraft carrier strike group
was deployed to the Indo-Pacific in
2021 for the first time, signifying an
enhanced maritime role.
The UK’s strategic presence in
the region, therefore, has been en-
hancing in recent times. Since both
UK and France have territories and
citizens residing in the region, they
have a pronounced regional security
presence. So far, both powers have
been more active in Western IOR in
counter-piracy missions. The UK also
holds tri-service military exercises
like Konkan Shakti with India (held
for first time in October 2021), while
France conducts a range of bilateral
exercises with India, including naval
exercises like Varuna, among others.
Germany
‘Policy Guidelines on the In-
do-Pacific’ adopted by the German
government in September 2020 high-
light Berlin’s aspirations in shaping
international order along with allies
while simultaneously protecting its
economic interests. Germany, Eu-
rope’s economic powerhouse, does Prime Minister Narendra Modi with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, at Hyderabad House in New Delhi during his recent visit to India (ANI)
not have territory or people but pri-
marily economic interests in the re-
gion. About 60 per cent of its trade do-Pacific, emphasizing the Europe- and transparent manner. the Indo-Pacific—partnership, secu-
passes through the SLOCS in the an approach to the region with three The EU is also seeking to ex- rity, prosperity, and sustainability.
Indo-Pacific. areas of key interest—safeguarding pand its role as a maritime securi- As a member of both the EU and
Through engagement with In- free and open trade; human rights; ty provider. This is best expressed NATO, the strategy is an effort of
do-Pacific countries, Germany seeks and rules-based international order. through the formulation of the Coor- the Czech Republic to more overtly
to diversify its economic and politi- In July 2021, the Dutch Frigate HN- dinated Maritime Presence (CMP), align its foreign policy priorities and
cal partnerships beyond China, build LMS Evertsen sailed into the South a key pillar of EU’s role in providing goals with those of these multilateral
closer ties with ASEAN, contribute China Sea and participated in the maritime security in the IOR. CMP organizations.
to maritime security, and work with UK-led Carrier strike group deploy- has been more active in the Western
countries in the region to uphold a ment (CSG21) to Japan, apart from IOR; the first deployment in January Conclusion
rules-based international order. Fol- a military exercise with Singapore. 2021 was in the Gulf of Guinea. The Indo-Pacific is a region that
lowing in EU’s footsteps, Germany The CMP is an evolving tool is experiencing both dynamic eco-
too, is focusing on multilateralism, European Union of EU’s maritime engagement. In nomic growth and intensifying se-
and is expanding cooperation with The EU’s focus on the Indo-Pa- February 2022, the EU launched curity competition. Europe remains
other regional groups such as the cific followed the formal listing of the CMP in the north-western one of major poles of global economy
Pacific Islands Forum and the Indi- China as a systemic rival in 2019. In IOR. The EU notes that the CMP and European countries have upped
an Ocean Rim Association. Through September 2021, the EU published ensures a naval presence in the In- their engagement in the Indo-Pa-
the deployment of the frigate Bayern the Indo-Pacific Strategy titled, ‘The do-Pacific and enhances its role as cific region, in the pursuit of their
in November 2021, Berlin also upped EU Strategy for Cooperation in the a global maritime security provider. geo-strategic and economic interests.
its maritime engagement with the re- Indo-Pacific’. The document out- The EU has also been enhancing
gion. Germany’s Indo-Pacific strate- lined seven key priority areas—sus- maritime cooperation with major Karan Phular is a Research Intern
gy though is more focused on trade tainable and inclusive prosperity; Indo-Pacific powers like India. In at the Europe and Eurasia Centre,
and economic growth and aligning green transition; ocean governance; June 2021, for instance, India and Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defense
approaches to tackle common chal- digital governance and partnerships; the EU conducted a joint naval ex- Studies and Analyses, New Delhi.
lenges with Indo-Pacific partners. connectivity; security and defense; ercise in the Gulf of Aden, the first Views expressed are of the author and
and human security. time such an activity was done.
Netherlands Its ongoing overtures in the In- The Indian Navy frigate Trikhand do not necessarily reflect the views of
Like its other European allies, do-Pacific seek to bolster its own participated in these exercises. the Manohar Parrikar IDSA or of the
the Netherlands took a decisive step economic security and presence Government of India.
towards a more active posture in the in an unstable world. The EU also Czech Republic This article first appeared in the
Indo-Pacific to defend and promote launched ‘Global Gateway’ in De- The Czech Republic in October Comments section of the website (www.
Dutch economic and political inter- cember 2021 pledging Euros 300 2022 released its strategy for cooper- idsa.in) of Manohar Parrikar Institute
ests. In November 2020, the Dutch billion to meet global infrastructure ation in the Indo-Pacific. The strat- for Defense Studies and Analyses, New
published their guidelines on the In- development needs in a sustainable egy identifies four core priorities in Delhi on April 28, 2023.

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