While the Indo-Pacific is far away from Germany in geographical terms, the security and prosperity of Germany and Europe are closely bound up with the region. Almost 40 percent of Germany’s foreign trade outside the EU isWhile the Indo-Pacific is far away from Germany in geographical terms, the security and prosperity of Germany and Europe are closely bound up with the region. Almost 40 percent of Germany’s foreign trade outside the EU is conducted with the countries of the Indo-Pacific region. The German economy depends on supply chains and critical raw materials. Last but not least, our partners in the Indo-Pacific are key players in solving global challenges such as the climate crisis. Challenges in the Indo-Pacific are therefore also ours.

At the same time, uncertainty in the region has increased significantly in recent years. Tensions on the Korean peninsula have risen. North Korea is adopting an increasingly aggressive stance and has entered into a strategic partnership with Russia through illegal weapons transfers. In the South China Sea, too, tensions have intensified in light of China’s expansionist maritime claims. Germany is therefore strongly committed to ensuring that international law, in particular the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, is upheld. The status quo in the Taiwan Strait may only be changed by peaceful means and mutual consent. Germany is committed to de-escalation there as any escalation would also affect German and European interests.

Moreover, the Federal Government wants to strengthen economic and trading links with its partners in the Indo-Pacific. Thus, Germany Trade and Invest (GTAI), the Federal Government’s foreign trade and investment agency, has opened a new hub for the region in Singapore to this end. Moreover, the Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and New Zealand entered into force in May 2024 and negotiations on a digital trade agreement with Singapore were concluded in July.

Hundreds of millions of people living in the Indo-Pacific region are among those most affected by the impacts of the climate crisis. Entire countries are at risk of disappearing and are being hit by natural disasters time and again. Germany therefore played an instrumental role in initiating the Loss and Damage Fund at COP28 in Dubai, providing 100 million US dollars to support the climate adaptation measures of the countries in the region.

With its policy guidelines for the Indo-Pacific, the Federal Government has pledged its long-term and reliable commitment to the countries of the region. With its fourth progress report, it has reaffirmed its steadily growing engagement in the Indo-Pacific and identified priorities for its policy with the region. In so doing, Germany is opposing the formation of blocs in the Indo-Pacific and is offering to cooperate with all countries in the region.