The European Union in the Indo‐Pacific: Gauging the EU's Indo‐Pacific Strategy Across Eight Indo‐Pacific Locations

ABSTRACT This article offers a macro‐overview of the reception and effectiveness of the European Union's (EU) Indo‐Pacific Strategy (IPS) released in April 2021. Drawing on research conducted across eight Indo‐Pacific locations—Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand—the study involved 111 semi‐structured interviews with foreign policy decision‐makers and influencers, supplemented by policy sandpit workshops in each location. The research reveals that while the EU maintains strong bilateral relationships across the Indo‐Pacific and is positively viewed in all examined locations, its effectiveness as a strategic actor remains constrained. The EU demonstrates specific credibility in three key areas: climate action, economic engagement and digital governance. However, significant weaknesses persist most notably the EU's perceived limited capacity in security and defence matters—the dominant concern in Indo‐Pacific geopolitics. The research also highlights challenges stemming from the Indo‐Pacific's inherent heterogeneity and limited awareness of the IPS itself among key stakeholders. Based on these findings, the article proposes two potential pathways forward: an evolutionary approach focusing on core strengths through a revised IPS 2.0 and a revolutionary approach abandoning the overarching strategy in favour of strengthening bilateral engagement. The analysis underscores the importance of aligning the EU's self‐conception with regional expectations.