‘Let’s not divide into blocs’: EU faces pushback from Indo-Pacific on Ukraine
- Some ministers in the region back an immediate halt to fighting in Ukraine, countering the EU position that such a move would solidify Russian gains
- Pacific Island Forum leader Filimon Manoni called discussions ‘sobering’
Divisions among Indo-Pacific countries over issues including China’s assertive posture in their region and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine came into sharper focus on Saturday at a European Union forum in Stockholm.
EU officials invited ministers and representatives from the region to discuss ways to cooperate on sustainable growth, environmental initiatives, and the “evolving security landscape in the Indo Pacific”, as the bloc seeks greater influence in a region increasingly affected by the US-China geopolitical rivalry.
But on the thorniest issues of the day, such as Ukraine and Taiwan, discussions were “sobering”, said Filimon Manoni, the deputy secretary general of the Pacific Island Forum, who moderated the session.
Public statements and remarks to the media made it clear that when it came to geopolitical flashpoints, the invitees were not on the same page, although EU officials insisted that visiting delegations were not asked to align with their view on Ukraine.
“The purpose was not to convince them, we are not on a crusade,” said the EU’s foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell at a post-summit press conference.