The Labour opposition, meanwhile, attacked the government’s focus on the Indo-Pacific as a diversion from the pressing need to mend fences with Europe.
But rather than framing it as a choice between Europe and the Indo-Pacific, whoever wins the UK general election on 4 July can and should combine intensified engagement in the Indo-Pacific with better relations with the UK’s closest neighbours.
Although relations with Europe remain challenging, the current government has laid a solid foundation for enhanced British diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific. The UK has gained an important diplomatic seat at the table by securing dialogue partner status with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the anchor for much of the region’s security and economic architecture.
This is complemented on the defence front by AUKUS, which binds the UK closer to the US and Australia on security and military technology while helping the latter acquire nuclear-powered submarines.
On economics, the UK’s planned accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), an important regional trade deal, provides a springboard into the region.
The next UK government must build on this foundation by investing political capital, time and money into expanding these relationships further. But this should be done at the same time as strengthening ties in Europe, not instead of doing so.
