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For the UK, the Indo-Pacific is becoming a center of geopolitical gravity
Following the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union, London has redefined parts of its foreign policy, including by pursuing an “Indo-Pacific tilt".
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British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly speaks during a high-level meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the situation amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, at the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York City, the United States, on Sept. 22, 2022. (Reuters/Brendan McDermid)
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em>Following the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union, London has redefined parts of its foreign policy, including by pursuing an “Indo-Pacific tilt”. This increased interest in engagement wtih the region comes at a time of geopolitical tensions, a theme prominent at the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and related gatherings. The Jakarta Post’s Yvette Tanamal sat down with British Foreign Minister James Cleverly to discuss the UK’s approach to its Indo-Pacific strategy on Friday, following the UK-ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference (PMC). The following are excerpts from the interview:
Question: Dozens of meetings were held during the week. Could you share the results of the meetings? What was discussed at the UK-ASEAN PMC?
Answer: I've taken the opportunity to speak formally and informally with the regional representatives that are here. The kind of things that we are discussing are very much on economic cooperation, very much on discussing the implementation of the UK's increased focus on the Indo-Pacific, explaining how we're going to make that, or we have made that, a permanent feature of the UK's foreign policy.
That includes what it means about our focus on things like energy transition and climate change. We've got a very ambitious program with Vietnam, for example, for the Just Energy Transition. We've got a very good working relationship with Indonesia. I am also looking for further opportunities to work bilaterally with Indonesia and other countries that are represented here.
And we're very proud of the UK's higher education sector. This year there'll be over 200 Chevening scholars from the ASEAN countries.
I think that education cooperation, science and technology cooperation, environmental protection, maritime coordination and ASEAN's central role in harnessing prosperity and maintaining peace in the region is something the UK is very keen to support.
