U.S. engagement has been effective in aligning European perspectives and approaches to the Indo-Pacific and beyond. Although the shift is uneven across European capitals, the rising economic challenge posed by China is now a major focus of transatlantic discussions. However, the picture is less clear on defense and security issues, with little consensus or focus from Washington on how Europe should deepen its engagement with countries in the Indo-Pacific. This picture of unfocused engagement and occasional mixed messages begs the question: What security role should the United States seek for Europe in the Indo-Pacific? Can European partners make a meaningful contribution to deterrence and contingency response in the region, and if so, how?
This report finds that Europe has a significant interest in upholding a free and open Indo-Pacific and can contribute to regional security in targeted ways. The deepening cooperation and engagement between Moscow and Beijing underscores that security in Europe and the Indo-Pacific are linked—thus, a deeper European role in Indo-Pacific security would be a welcome development and should be encouraged by Washington. Yet, Europe’s role in the region in the near term is constrained by its limited military means and by the direct and intensifying challenge posed by Russia. Europe’s priority should therefore be to ensure its own security in the face of the Russian threat, and to build the capacity to enable the United States to shift focus and respond effectively in the event of a military contingency or crisis with China.
This report is made possible by general support to CSIS. No direct sponsorship contributed to this report.