Top EU diplomat: Europe for closer maritime security ties with India
The Ukraine conflict is not just a “European war” as its fallout, combined with the “new configuration of power in China”, has significant implications for countries across the world, a top EU diplomat responsible for security issues said on Wednesday.
Enrique Mora, the EU deputy secretary general for political affairs, said in an exclusive interview that the 27-member bloc is keen to step up maritime security cooperation with India as part of efforts to increase its military presence in the Indo-pacific. This includes the possible deployment
of a European official at the Indian Navy’s information fusion centre and joint naval patrols in regional waters. “We want to increase our military presence in the Indo-pacific region, we want to work on connectivity, on digital... All of them are chapters of this Indo-pacific policy...”
Mora, a key aide to EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, was in New Delhi to co-chair India-eu foreign policy and security consultations. He said the two sides are looking at specific projects in Bangladesh and Africa under the India-eu Connectivity Partnership at a time when many countries are discovering the “real nature” of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), including the debt burden.
“I have the same impression everywhere I go – they tell me basically [that the Ukraine conflict] is a European war. It’s a major thing because it involves a nuclear power and a permanent member of the UN Security Council...we don’t think it’s a European war, we think it’s a real game changer.”