Written by Donna Runy
The fourth EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum took place on 20-21 November 2025, bringing together 64 countries from Europe and the Indo-Pacific. Chaired by EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, the Forum focused on fostering security, prosperity, and sustainability across the two regions.
Discussions centred on three main priorities:
- Addressing evolving security challenges
- Boosting economic cooperation and digital connectivity
- Promoting sustainable development.
Participants highlighted recent developments in the EU-Indo-Pacific cooperation, including Security and Defence Partnerships with Japan and South Korea, trade agreements with Indonesia, EU Clean Trade and Investment Partnership with South Africa and the EU-Pacific Business Forum, which unlocked nearly €300 million in new investment.
Looking ahead, the EU reaffirmed its commitment to the region, pledging continued investment in partnerships that address 21st-century challenges.Through Global Gateway infrastructure projects and ongoing efforts to maintain market access and promote strategic partnerships, Europe aims to continue its reliability as a partner across the Indo-Pacific value chain.
The Forum also addressed the recognition of shared vulnerabilities, advocating the protection of critical maritime infrastructure, including submarine cables, with the EU proposing a new initiative to enhance cooperation on maritime security under international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
ASEAN Perspectives and Representation
ASEAN member states played an active role in shaping discussions, highlighting priorities that dovetail with the EU’s strategic engagement in the region. ASEAN representatives emphasised the region’s pivotal role in shaping economic resilience, sustainable development, and regional security. Singapore’s Foreign Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan called for deeper Indo-Pacific-EU engagement, stressing collaboration on digitalisation and the green transition to future-proof economies. Similarly, Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister Sok Chenda Sophea reinforced this vision, stressing the alignment of ASEAN’s Vision 2045 with the EU’s Global Gateway initiative and prioritising digital economy growth, supply-chain resilience, and cybersecurity. Thailand’s Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow reflected on the progress in EU-Thailand relations and stressed the potential for EU support in Thailand’s digital and green transition, while advocating for a multipolar, rules-based regional order. Contributions from Japan and the Philippines further echoed these perspectives, reinforcing the need to uphold a free and open international order and deepen the EU-Indo-Pacific cooperation in the face of evolving security challenges.
ASEAN Connectivity
Energy and connectivity emerged as central themes in discussions on ASEAN-EU cooperation, with ministers spotlighting initiatives that could shape the region’s future. The ASEAN Power Grid (APG) was highlighted as a cornerstone for enhancing energy security and accelerating the green transition. Singapore’s Foreign Minister, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, called for concrete, long-term projects supported by the EU, while Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Sok Chenda Sophea, stressed that energy, digital networks, and cross-border connectivity must be closely aligned with both ASEAN Vision 2045 and the EU’s Global Gateway initiative. Reinforcing this commitment, the EU, through the Team Europe approach unveiled at the Global Gateway Forum in October 2025, aims to support feasibility studies, modernise transmission systems, and expand renewable-energy interconnections across Southeast Asia. Ministers further emphasised that connectivity stretches beyond energy alone, encompassing digital infrastructure, supply-chain resilience, and sustainable transport networks, areas where deeper EU-ASEAN collaboration can drive economic growth, bolster security, and strengthen regional integration.
The 4th EU–Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum emphasized the strategic importance of aligning long-term visions, such as ASEAN Vision 2045 with external partners like the EU, signalling a shift toward cooperative frameworks that are both resilient and adaptive to global uncertainties. Such initiatives also illustrate how concrete infrastructure can serve as a nexus between economic integration, energy transition, and geopolitical stability.
