Germany Germany’s presence in the Indo-Pacific has gradually expanded since the deployment to the region of the frigate Bayern in 2021–2022, laying the groundwork for future development. [...] Scholz received the heads of state of Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand in the course of the week in a bid to deepen economic partnerships with Southeast Asian countries and reduce one-sided dependencies on China. [...] The ship conducted port calls in Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok, took part in defence exhibitions in Malaysia and Singapore, and participated in the Indonesia-led multinational Komodo 2023 exercise, the latter being Italy’s first participation in the event. [...] The visit could be considered a follow-up to the 2021 deal between the Italian shipbuilding company Fincantieri and the Indonesian navy for the latter’s acquisition of eight naval vessels. [...] Conclusion As the European Union sets out its medium- to long-term strategy for the Indo-Pacific, the geopolitical dynamics in Europe, the Middle East, and the Red Sea region seemed to have redirected some of its attention and resources to tackling crises nearer home.
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