Questioning the Future of the EU-Japan Partnership Within the FOIP: Enhancing and Endangering Factors

Abstract

With the distancing of the EU from Xi Jinping and the strengthening of relations with Japan in the context of the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) strategy in 2021, we are witnessing the birth of a new political paradigm binding Europe to Asia based on the values of democracy and the rule of law. The ongoing war in Ukraine, the recent US shift which shows disinterest in European affairs, and the creation of AUKUS are factors that might enhance the future role of the FOIP or risk to weaken it. This contribution aims to highlight and analyze these factors, questioning the future of this strategy and suggesting paths that can make its implementation more effective, in order to exploit all the possibilities that may be offered through its agenda and ensuring the maintenance of the international liberal order.