EU-ASEAN Security Cooperation

EU-ASEAN security cooperation has progressed primarily in aspects of non-military security, such as cyber security, climate change and energy security. Whilst the EU has strengthened its naval presence in the Indo-Pacific, it has not been translated into meaningful maritime security cooperation with ASEAN. The assertion in the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific of the centrality of cooperation with ASEAN in the evolving security architecture in the region amid rising geostrategic tensions has therefore not been fully realised. The limitations in EU-ASEAN maritime security cooperation, and to regional security cooperation generally, largely relate to the China factor. China has been able, largely due to the creation of economic dependency, to practice a ‘divide and rule’ tactic over both the EU and ASEAN, but given historical and cultural affinity, and geographic proximity, China’s economic and political influence affects ASEAN still more. Although both partners seek further collaboration, considerable work remains for the EU and ASEAN to make EU-ASEAN security cooperation more viable.