EU-Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum: press remarks by High Representative and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas
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Good afternoon,
Today, the Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum brought together 64 countries. From the east coast of Africa to the Pacific islands. This speaks volumes about our relationship and our shared appetite to work together.
Europe and the Indo-Pacific are at a pivotal moment. We are committed to free trade and open sea lanes. But both regions face challenges, from export controls to climate change and wars.
A major focus today was maritime security and the protection of our undersea infrastructure. These systems are essential for global communication and energy supplies. They carry 95% of trans-regional digital data flows.
After this press conference, we will host a separate event focused on maritime security. We are launching a new initiative to find ways to better protect critical maritime infrastructure. We want to encourage the development of creative ideas to protect our infrastructure and increase our resilience against potential threats.
The EU’s broader partnership with the Indo-Pacific has three main pillars.
First, security and defence. We have two key partnerships in the Indo-Pacific, with South Korea and Japan. But we also work closely with many others. Just this month, EU and Indian warships together ended a pirate attack off Somalia.
Second, economic ties. Since the EU signed free trade agreements with several Indo-Pacific nations, bilateral trade has grown by over 40%. The EU has recently concluded a free-trade deal with Indonesia and is now working to finalize one with India. We are also currently negotiating with other countries that joined us today. Free trade benefits citizens and businesses in both regions.
And third, sustainability. The EU promotes growth through investments. These include Global Gateway projects that support farmers, improve digital innovation, and boost connectivity. The EU is also a key partner in addressing climate change. At COP30, we discussed how we can help the region improve resilience to climate impacts.
Yesterday, for the first time, our Asean partners joined us for the Foreign Affairs Council. Looking forward, we are working to upgrade our ties with the ASEAN members to a comprehensive strategic partnership by 2027.
Finally, Ukraine. Russia’s war against Ukraine is an existential threat to Europe. We all want this war to end, but how it ends matters. Rewarding Russia’s aggression will not make Ukraine, Europe, or the Indo-Pacific safer. Russia has no legal right whatsoever to any concessions from the country it invaded. Ultimately, the terms of any agreement are for Ukraine to decide. The EU has a simple 2-point plan: support Ukraine and pressure Russia. The EU is providing record levels of military support to Ukraine to help it defend itself, and we will continue to do so.
I will end by stressing that today’s geopolitical challenges call for closer partnerships. In security, growth, connectivity, and climate action, Europe and the Indo-Pacific are stronger together.
Thank you.
Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/media/video/I-280551
Q&A.
Q. I have two questions. Could you clarify what you discussed in terms of Ukraine? Maybe you raised the question the role of the region in the peace process in Ukraine, and maybe in the context of shadow fleet. And the second question, you always said that the aggressor should not be rewarded for aggression. From your opinion, this new plan of the United States, how does it address this position? Thank you.
Today is supposed to be the day when the US sanctions against Russia will kick in. I hope we do not see today a decision that these sanctions are postponed, because, then, this is exactly what Russia wants. Also, what Russia wants, is that we postpone the discussions regarding reparations loan, that the frozen assets will not be used in the benefit of Ukraine. What is our response? We should be very firm that we are not walking into these two traps. With our Indo-Pacific partners, of course, we discussed also the security situation in Europe and also Russia's war against Ukraine, and how it is a threat to the Indo-Pacific security as well - as it is a threat to the international rules-based order. This is what everybody committed to around the table, saying that the UN Charter is the charter that should be upheld and all the principles within it. Of course, as we extensively discussed the shadow fleet and what we can do yesterday, we addressed this issue specifically with those countries that have the fleet. But more broadly, the focus and discussion was about maritime security as such: freedom of navigation, but also how environmental risks that the shadow fleet vessels are bringing about to those countries is a danger for them all and for us all. We discussed how to cooperate on these issues.
Q. I have a follow-up on that question. I would like to ask about the Indo-Pacific partners of the European Union, what exactly can they do to help you support Ukraine and to help Ukraine not to agree to this peace plan, which seems to be unacceptable, neither for Ukraine nor for the European Union.
Of course, we did not go into so much details, because we were discussing our bilateral relationship with the Indo-Pacific partners with the focus specifically on maritime security, but everybody touched upon international law and how it should be upheld, and also that Russia's war against Ukraine is a blatant violation of international law and the UN Charter. And it gave us the possibilities to explain how we see things and what is at stake, really. Of course, Europe wants peace. Ukraine wants peace. But for any peace to be sustainable, it has to have certain elements. If you just give in to the aggression, then you invite for more aggression. And this is dangerous, not only for us in Europe, but also our Indo-Pacific partners, because all those countries around, that might have an appetite for the neighbours’ territories, will learn that this is okay, it pays off. And this is a very dangerous moment for all.
Q. Has China has been also on the agenda today? Have the rising tensions between China and Japan been addressed as well during this meeting? And since you are mostly very outspoken on China, could you maybe provide us with your personal assessment of the situation? Is this a concern for the EU that two major countries of the region are undergoing this dispute?
The increasing tensions in the Indo-Pacific are, of course, of concern to us. Today, we were focusing on the relationship, how we can bring those tensions down, and how we can cooperate on various issues. Of course, different worries about different conflicts were raised and tensions in the region, and how we can better address these issues, really being there with our partners and listening to what they have to say about these tensions. What we see right now is that Japan's representative was also explaining what is at stake and how they see this picture evolving. But for us, it was important to focus on our future relationship. It was not really discussing all these issues very much in detail.
Q. Do you think, in a way, President Trump's policies towards the EU, but also towards other countries in the Indo-Pacific, have brought you two together. And what's the vision here, broadly speaking? And secondly, what role do you think India plays in these Indo-Pacific - EU ties? Do you see India as a counter to China? Do you think [the] EU can lure India away from the Russian sphere of influence via enhanced strategic ties and more trade through the FDA, which is being discussed?
In the light of recent geopolitical shifts, of course, we see and feel very much that all the countries around the world, not only in the Indo-Pacific, but also other countries, are really looking into diversifying their relationships. That is what we are also doing today: building free trade relationships with countries in the Indo-Pacific, but also in the Latin American, African countries, to find new possibilities. Not to put all the eggs in one basket, but really to see how these relationships can contribute to the diversification of trade and diversification of defense and security relationships, and partnerships as well. So, today really mapping the areas where we can cooperate regarding India, we have the negotiations of our trade agreements going on right now to again diversify the trade portfolios, give both the Indian as well as the European side and companies and businesses more opportunities to expand their markets.
Q. India and the European Union are negotiating a defense framework agreement as well as a separate agreement on security of information. So do you think these two agreements will help both sides expand cooperation in the Indo-Pacific? And second brief question, both sides are closing their negotiations for the proposed FTA. There are a number of complex issues that tare yet to be resolved. So, are the EU and India going to sign a limited trade deal, or you are kind of still going for the ambitious FTA, thank you.
I mean security of information and connectivity was also one of the topics that we discussed and have, of course, discussed also with our Indian counterparts, because we see part of a broader security arrangement. Today, many countries raised the issue of sharing intelligence when it comes to our mutual risks. So definitely, we explore the ways we can cooperate.
Coming to your other questions regarding the FTA with India. India is a very tough partner, so the negotiations are very hard. But I think if the negotiations are very intensive and comprehensive, but also very tough, then the result is also good for both parties. A good agreement is when nobody's happy, that means that everybody has compromised, but the work is ongoing, and I cannot give you a date. What I can tell you is that there is a genuine interest on the European side in concluding such agreements.
Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/media/video/I-281226