Europe’s focus on Asia intensified by Iran war
Ultimately, an underlying key goal of the EU’s pivot is to build a competitive advantage
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THE ongoing Iran war may have stalled the US’ pivot to the Asia-Pacific, but the same conflict is prompting Europe to intensify its economic and political reorientation to the region, including Asean.
This was underlined last week by French President Emmanuel Macron’s important trip to Tokyo and Seoul. This follows his Asean-focused visit to Vietnam, Singapore and Indonesia in 2025, and his trip to India this February.
As Macron has highlighted, the Asia-Pacific accounts for some 60 per cent of global gross domestic product, about two-thirds of global growth. Together with the EU, the region drives some 70 per cent of global trade.
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