Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) will strengthen partnerships during his upcoming trip to the Indo‑Pacific region.
The region is “strategically decisive for Germany and Europe in many ways” Wadephul said on Sunday before he departed. “From Berlin to Brussels we sense the economic dynamism and innovative drive of this future region-and also the geo‑economic and security challenges that many countries face there. Both have an impact on us”.
“Across all five countries I will visit, we share a common interest in a stable international order and a commitment to multilateralism” the minister added. “We stand together for clear rules in the international arena, whether under pressure in Europe or in the Indo‑Pacific”. He noted that events in the Taiwan Strait or the South China Sea have global repercussions.
“The Indo‑Pacific is also a region with key partners as we broaden our supply base for strategically important raw materials, reduce dependencies in other critical areas, and diversify supply chains overall”. Building trade relationships founded on free trade, competition and fairness is in mutual interest. “It is of paramount importance for a large export economy like Germany-and also for emerging partners in the ASEAN area”. In the Indo‑Pacific, the protection of maritime freedom, global supply chains, and thereby the worldwide economic development is a major decision point.
Wadephul’s itinerary includes Singapore, New Zealand, Tonga, Australia, and Brunei.
