Elli-Katharina Pohlkamp

Nov 21, 2024 | ecfr.eu | James Crabtree |Alexander Lipke |Elli-Katharina Pohlkamp

Commentary 21 November 2024 8 minute read North Korean troops in Russia. Chinese cars on European roads. Japan’s and South Korea’s presence at NATO gatherings. India’s slow but steady turn towards the West. Europe and the Indo-Pacific are no longer neatly distinguishable political and military regions – they are strategically intertwined. In recent years, Europeans and their Asian partners have increasingly recognised the nature of the powerful interconnections linking their economies,...

Oct 21, 2024 | ecfr.eu | Alexander Lipke |Elli-Katharina Pohlkamp

Japan’s new prime minister Ishiba Shigeru, who took office in early October, has inherited unusually positive relations with South Korea. Known for his defence expertise, Ishiba has signalled his intent to maintain many of the policies of his predecessor Kishida Fumio in improving relations with Seoul, particularly in the security realm, both bilaterally and through cooperation with the United States.

Oct 26, 2023 | ecfr.eu | Elli-Katharina Pohlkamp

Russia’s war on Ukraine has reshaped the geopolitical landscape and exposed a disconnect between the West and the global south. While G7 countries swiftly endorsed sanctions against Russia, many nations in southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America opted for more neutral positions, and refrained from aligning with Western narratives on the war.

Jun 1, 2023 | ecfr.eu | Elli-Katharina Pohlkamp

The central front in the West’s strategic rivalry with China is east Asia. Of course, the competition with China will be global and economic – it will take place in every region of the world and across many issue areas. But in any such competition, there is a centrality to the possibility of war and a reality to geographical competition that is irreducible.

Jan 31, 2023 | ecfr.eu | Elli-Katharina Pohlkamp

The year 2023 is already shaping up to be consequential for Japan’s role in the Indo-Pacific and on the global stage. On 1 January, Japan took over the G7 presidency and joined the United Nations Security Council as a non-permanent member for the next two years. Shortly before, the Japanese government released three strategic documents to address security challenges in the region: the National Security Strategy (NSS), the National Defense Strategy, and the Defense Buildup Program.