Strategic Dynamics in the Indo-Pacific

Partnership for Maintaining Inclusive and Stable Maritime Region

The Indo-Pacific is the most strategically important region in the 21st century. Southeast Asia is located strategically in the confluence of major sea lines of communication. Therefore, the maritime domain and Southeast Asian states are indispensable in the Indo-Pacific. The ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) serves as a guideline for the cooperation between ASEAN and the Indo-Pacific nations. Many Indo-Pacific nations have voiced their support towards the AOIP, including the European Union. Despite its importance, the Indo-Pacific is facing numerous challenges such as the maintenance of an inclusive, open, stable, and prosperous region with rules-based partnerships. This paper is divided into three parts. First, it assesses the challenges in the maritime areas of Southeast Asian nations. Second, it explains maritime issues of shared interests between European Union and Indo-Pacific states. Third, it discusses security frameworks that are better suited in the regional context.

Author: 

Sumathy Permal, Senior Researcher with the Centre for the Straits of Malacca at the Maritime Institute of Malaysia