The EU’s security and defence cooperation with Asian partners in the spotlight as Federica Mogherini travels to Singapore for the Shangri-La Dialogue
Bruxelles, 31/05/2019 – 10:47, UNIQUE ID: 190531_3
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini, will on 1 June be in Singapore to participate in the annual Shangri-La Dialogue. The visit takes place in the context of the EU’s increased security engagement in and with Asia.
Federica Mogherini will be a panellist alongside the Defence Ministers of Japan and the Republic of Korea at the plenary session on “Korean security: the next steps”. The High Representative/Vice-President is expected to outline the European Union’s policy of critical engagement towards the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), which combines pressure through sanctions and other measures while keeping communication and dialogue channels open. High Representative/Vice-President Mogherini will also outline the European Union’s growing role as a global security actor, in particular in terms of its security cooperation in and with Asia. EU Foreign Ministers decided in May 2018 to strengthen the EU’s role and engagement in this regard, recognising that Asian countries, regional organisations and platforms, such as the ASEAN Regional Forum, are crucial to help secure a more stable and peaceful world.
While in Singapore, Federica Mogherini will have a number of bilateral meetings, including with the Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, the Foreign Minister, Vivian Balakrishnan, and the Defence Minister, Ng Eng Hen, of Singapore. She will also meet with the Defence Ministers of China, Wei Fenghe, of the Republic of Korea, Kyeongdoo Jeong, and Minister of National Defence of Vietnam, Ngo Xuan Lich. Federica Mogherini will also have a bilateral meeting with the new Secretary of Defence of Australia, Linda Reynolds, and Minister of Defence of New Zealand, Ron Mark. In addition, High Representative/Vice-President Mogherini will discuss cooperation in the security and defence field between the EU and Asia with participants of the South-East Asia Young Leaders’ Forum.
Audio-visual coverage of the visit will be provided by Europe by Satellite. More information on the EUs security cooperation in and with Asia can be found in a dedicated factsheet.