The European Union Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum concluded in Stockholm Saturday evening, expressing determination to uphold a rules-based international order, principles of the UN Charter and international law.

According to a co-chairs’ press release after the one-day meeting, the Forum provided new political momentum to enhancing partnerships between the EU and the Indo-Pacific, promoting regional peace and security, stability and shared prosperity, and shaping a collective vision for the future of the Indo-Pacific region Co-chaired by Josep Borrell, EU High Representative and Tobias Billstrom, Swedish Foreign Minister whose country holds the current EU Presidency, the Stockholm Forum, the second such Forum after Paris in 2022, brought together participants from the EU and its Member States, in addition to 26 Indo-Pacific countries and several regional organisations. “Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has made clear that, in a globalised world, there are no safe distances from disruptive shocks,” said the release.

Participants expressed their willingness to work together in promoting energy diversification and reinforcing energy security. The EU and its Member States expressed their commitment to work more closely with their Indo-Pacific partners to ensure sustainable, secure and affordable energy for all.

They also shared their determination to maintain freedom of navigation and overflight as fundamental principles that underpin regional security and stability.

The participants addressed and welcomed their growing engagement on a broad range of traditional and non-traditional security and defence-related issues, such as maritime security, cybersecurity, counterterrorism, crisis management, hybrid threats and transnational crime.

The EU emphasised its ambition to establish a meaningful European naval presence in the Indo-Pacific region.

It was acknowledged that the EU and Indo-Pacific countries have a stake in each other’s security, and that the consequences of ongoing conflicts and instability go beyond any one country or region.

Replying to a question at the concluding press conference, as to why China was not invited to the Forum, Borrell replied “we can discuss a lot of things without having China. It doesn’t mean we are against China and that we neglect China”.

Source: Kuwait News Agency