Has the European Union finally found its strategy in its newly upgraded relationship with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations?

After 44 years of formal partnership, ASEAN and the EU agreed to upgrade their relationship to a strategic partnership on December 1, 2020.

There has been little clarity as to an EU definition of a strategic partnership. The EU’s strategic partnerships are heterogeneous in nature and have come about in an ad hoc fashion, demonstrating a lack of clear criteria for them.

A Question of Timing

It is clear that the region has suddenly became even more important strategically to the EU.

Consolidating Inter-Regional Relations

For both the EU and ASEAN, a region-to-region strategic partnership bolsters the relevance of regional governance.

This article was written by Laura Allison-Reumann and Philomena Murray

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