On Wednesday, November 6, YCAPS and the Institute for Security and Development Policy (ISDP) held held its 6th collaborative webinar. The event brought together experts to discuss cooperation between the Quad states (India, Australia, Japan, and the United States) and the EU’s Global Gateway in the Indo-Pacific. Moderated by Jagannath Panda, Head of the Stockholm Centre for South Asia and Indo-Pacific Affairs (SCSA-IPA), alongside Isak Nordenberg and Luc Maccionni, the event explored strategic pathways for collaboration amid shifting regional dynamics.
The panel featured Dr. Alfred Gerstl, Dr. Krzysztof M. Zalewski, Dr. Satoru Nagao, and Dr. Swati Prabhu, who examined topics such as the EU’s outreach in the Indo-Pacific, potential sectors for Quad-EU cooperation, and how the Global Gateway could strengthen democratic as well as economic resilience in the region. Gerstl and Zalewski began by discussing the current state of the Global Gateway and the EU’s ambitions in the Indo-Pacific. They were followed by Nagao and Prabhu, who offered an Asian perspective on the opportunities and challenges presented by the EU’s involvement in the region.
The second part of the discussion explored specific sectors—such as infrastructure, technology, and energy—where the Quad and the EU could work together to enhance regional resilience. The Q&A segment featured engaging audience questions, touching on the potential influence of an expanding BRICS, democratic countries’ foreign policy adjustments, the impact of Middle East conflicts on regional strategies, and even the anticipated impact of Trump’s upcoming inauguration on the Global Gateway’s goals.
We thank our expert speakers, moderators, and ISDP for an engaging and informative event, and we look forward to more collaborative discussions on regional development and security for the EU and Indo-Pacific.