Erik Kurzweil, Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific at the European External Action Service, delivered a special lecture at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies on 19 March 2026 under the title “Towards a Growing Role of the EU in the Indo-Pacific.”
The lecture addressed the EU’s expanding role in the Indo-Pacific, EU–Korea relations, and the global security environment. It highlighted progress since the 2023 summit, including cooperation on the Security and Defense Partnership, Digital Trade Agreement, and Security of Information Agreement.
Key discussions also covered maritime security, cyber threats, and foreign information manipulation, alongside major geopolitical issues such as the Russia–Ukraine war, Russia–North Korea military ties, and rebalancing economic relations with China. The interconnected nature of European and Indo-Pacific security was emphasized.
The event concluded with a Q&A session, offering valuable insights into the EU’s Indo-Pacific strategy and reaffirming the importance of EU–Korea cooperation.
