ESIWA+: Enhancing the European Union’s Security Cooperation In and With Asia and the Indo-Pacific

Since the 2021 launch of the EU’s Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, Europe has been reinforcing its presence in the region and contributing to its stability, security and prosperity. 

2020-2024: The first phase of ESIWA

“Enhancing security cooperation in and with Asia” (ESIWA), during its first phase from January 2020 to September 2024, was instrumental in supporting the implementation of the EU Strategic Compass and establishing tailored partnerships in Asia and the Indo-Pacific designed to better address common challenges.

Under the guidance of the European External Action Service and the European Commission’s Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI), the project facilitated peer-to-peer exchange, promoted cooperation based on converging interests, and enhanced the EU’s visibility in the region as a reliable global security partner.

2024-2027: A second phase aligned with the previous actions

Boosted by growing ownership of the project by partner countries, phase two of the project, rechristened ESIWA+, will cover the period October 2024 to September 2027.

The EU and EU Delegations will, through the project’s work, aim to locally increase their access to governments, including the security and defence apparatus.

ESIWA+ activities centre around four thematic fields: counterterrorism & violent extremism prevention, crisis management & hybrid threats, cyber security, and maritime security.

Our actions provide spaces for discussion to our partner countries in order to enhance their collaboration. As an example, in 2025:

• An EU-Thailand-Japan Seminar took place on the Law of the Sea: It catalysed discussions between 100 in-person and 30 online maritime law enforcement practitioners, diplomats and legal experts from regional partner countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam).
• A Philippines-EU Seminar was held on the protection of critical infrastructure: it fostered collaboration between various agencies at the forefront of security and defence, by dealing on the resilience of critical infrastructure protection through the lens of cyber security, maritime security and hybrid threats.