Brussels: Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, chaired the fourth EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum in Brussels on 20-21 November 2025. The Forum gathered around 70 delegations from EU institutions, EU Member States, and countries and regional organizations from the Indo-Pacific region, ranging from the East coast of Africa to the Pacific Islands.
According to European Union, the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum serves as a platform for the EU and its Member States to engage collectively with Indo-Pacific partners. It responds to a shared interest in fostering cooperation on a region-to-region basis, enhancing mutual security, prosperity, and resilience, and setting the stage for a more ambitious partnership.
The Forum addressed the increasing interconnection between Europe and the Indo-Pacific amid global geopolitical shifts and economic uncertainties. Challenges such as the pressure on the multilateral system exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, the weaponization of trade and technology, and the accelerating climate crisis are bringing the two regions closer. Both regions continue to rely on the rules-based international order and multilateral institutions for compliance and accountability with established rules and norms.
Security challenges faced by the EU and Indo-Pacific partners are growing more complex, necessitating enhanced cooperation and common solutions. During the Forum, participants discussed enhancing cooperation and deepening solidarity in three parallel roundtables focusing on security priorities, shared prosperity, economic security, digital connectivity, and efforts for a sustainable future.
The Forum provided an opportunity for the EU to showcase progress in strengthening partnerships with Indo-Pacific countries and organizations since the last Ministerial meeting in February 2024. This includes Security and Defence Partnerships with Japan and South Korea, the conclusion of negotiations on the EU-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, the signing of the EU Clean Trade and Investment Partnership with South Africa, financial support for the ASEAN Power Grid, and the EU-Pacific Business Forum, which unlocked significant new investments.
The EU remains committed to investing in the Indo-Pacific across various fronts, promoting an international system based on multilateralism and the rule of law. The implementation of existing Security and Defence Partnerships and the expansion of cooperation at bilateral and regional levels aim to contribute further to regional security and stability.
A high-level event on the Protection of Critical Maritime Infrastructure was held on the Forum’s sidelines, addressing common challenges to the security of critical infrastructure, including submarine cables. Participants explored available tools and sought concrete solutions in line with international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Given the shared interest, the EU plans to establish a new initiative to enhance cooperation on the Protection of Critical Maritime Infrastructure among partners in Europe and the Indo-Pacific.