Shifting narratives? The EU’s approach to the Indo-Pacific after the war in Ukraine

The EU's release of its first Indo-Pacific strategy in 2021 was seen as a significant step in its growing geopolitical ambitions. However, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the consequent security crisis have suggested a shift in policymakers' attention and a reordering of the EU's strategic priorities. This article examines how the war in Ukraine has impacted the EU's narrative and actions in the Indo-Pacific. Drawing on the literature on EU actorness, it seeks to determine whether the war has accelerated or decelerated the EU's urgency to engage in the Indo-Pacific. It does so by looking at the evolution of the EU's relations with ASEAN and Taiwan. The article includes textual analysis of strategic documents, policy pronouncements, and speeches from both before and after the war began in February 2022, providing insights into the evolution of the EU-Indo-Pacific cooperation and the EU's growing role in the region.