EU Sees South Korea as Key Partner in Sharpened Indo-Pacific Strategy

The European Union is looking to deepen cooperation with South Korea as it narrows its Indo-Pacific strategy around security, economic resilience and climate action, according to the bloc’s special envoy for the region.

Maria Castillo Fernandez, the European External Action Service’s special envoy for the Indo-Pacific, described South Korea as a trusted partner that shares the EU’s commitment to the rule of law and a rules-based international order. She said closer collaboration could extend across all three of the strategy’s main pillars.

The EU launched its Indo-Pacific strategy in 2021 with a broad agenda. Castillo Fernandez said a changing geopolitical landscape has since pushed Brussels to focus more closely on practical security and economic challenges. The security pillar includes maritime security, freedom of navigation and the protection of critical undersea and maritime infrastructure from hybrid threats.

She linked security conditions in Europe and the Indo-Pacific, pointing to military cooperation among Russia, China and North Korea. She also called for South Korea to continue supporting Ukraine, particularly through humanitarian assistance, as Russian attacks place pressure on Ukrainian energy infrastructure ahead of winter.

Economic security forms the second pillar. The envoy emphasized reliable and sustainable access to critical raw materials and resilient supply chains. She said the EU is expanding its network of free trade agreements and pursuing partnerships in digital technology and strategic resources.

The Korea-EU Competitiveness Partnership, established at a bilateral summit in Brussels in June, is expected to provide a channel for regular consultations on trade and economic security. Castillo Fernandez said both sides oppose the weaponization of trade and should defend established international trade rules while pursuing necessary reforms.

Climate action is the third priority, with particular attention to ocean governance, maritime resources and the vulnerability of small island countries to rising sea levels. Energy cooperation is another potential area for closer ties, including work to make power more affordable and strengthen electricity grids for greater use of renewable sources.

The envoy also said European and Korean development agencies are discussing possible joint projects in third countries across the Indo-Pacific. Potential fields include digitalization, forestry management and the transition to low-carbon economies.

Her comments present South Korea’s technological capacity and regional position as assets in the EU’s evolving approach. They also underline that the partnership will require continued political commitment as security tensions, trade disputes and climate risks increasingly overlap.