Jakarta, IO – In a significant shift of its foreign policy, Germany recently announced plans to deploy two warships to the Asia-Pacific region, signaling a deepening involvement in the region. This move, along with the increasing engagement of other NATO countries, has raised concerns about the implications of NATO’s growing presence in the Asia-Pacific.
Analysts argue that these actions are largely driven by the United States’ “Indo-Pacific strategy,” aimed at consolidating its dominance and stirring up tensions in the region to maintain the existing hegemonic system.
Germany’s decision to deploy warships is just one example of NATO countries expanding their engagement in the Asia-Pacific. The United Kingdom, Italy, Romania, and others have also announced plans to dispatch troops, ships, and aircraft to visit Japan and South Korea, under “defense cooperation” frameworks.
The UK’s intention to pre-stock ammunition and fuels in Australia through the AUKUS agreement further adds to the complex situation in the region. The US has been actively promoting the “Indo-Pacific version” of NATO, urging its allies to conduct joint military exercises and intensify its military presence in the region.
The US and its allies have been organizing a series of large-scale military exercises to assert their influence in the Asia-Pacific. The recent “NOBLE WOLF” joint exercise, involving the navies of the US, Japan, Australia, and Canada, marked the beginning of the US Navy’s Large-scale Global Exercise 23 (LSGE 23).
More than ten exercises, including “Pacific Crown,” are planned under LSGE 23, with the participation of France, New Zealand, the UK, the Netherlands, and other countries. Land training has also intensified, with the US and South Korea conducting large live-fire drills and the US and Japan focusing on air defense and anti-missile operations.
The United States has been bolstering its military presence in the Asia-Pacific to advance its hegemonic goals. The deployment of the “Ronald Reagan” and “Nimitz” carrier strike groups in the Philippine Sea and the temporary stationing of E-4B and E-6 Airborne Command Post in Singapore and Guam demonstrate the US intentions.
Moreover, the US, Japan, and South Korea have amassed a considerable number of advanced fighter jets in the region, with at least 110 F-22 and F-35 aircraft present. These actions are part of the US strategy to draw its NATO allies into the Asia-Pacific, reinforce military alliances with Japan and South Korea, and create divisions among regional countries.
Read: Significant Messages Emanate From NATO’s Largest Air Defense Exercise
The growing involvement of NATO in the Asia-Pacific raises serious concerns about regional security, stability and prosperity. The US-led efforts to build a small clique in the region, coercing countries to take sides and align with its interests, risks exacerbating tensions and triggering a regional arms race.
By prioritizing its own hegemonic goals, the US is undermining the principles of cooperation, mutual respect, and peaceful development in the Asia-Pacific. The complex situation created by these actions may hinder the region’s progress and impede the establishment of a harmonious and inclusive regional order.
As NATO countries increasingly engage in the Asia-Pacific under the influence of the United States’ “Indo-Pacific strategy,” the geopolitical landscape of the region is undergoing significant changes. The motives behind these actions raise concerns about the security and stability of the Asia-Pacific, as well as the potential for a regional arms race. It is crucial for all stakeholders to approach this situation with caution, prioritize dialogue and diplomacy, and work towards a cooperative framework that promotes peace, stability, and prosperity for all nations in the region.
Raihan Ronodipuro is a Master’s student in School of Public Policy & Management at Tsinghua University, China. Previously, he was awarded the Chinese MOFCOM Scholarship and earned a Master of Law in International Relations from the School of International and Public Affairs at Jilin University in China. He serves as an Associate Researcher in the Department of Politics and Security at the Center for Indonesia-China Studies (CICS). He is presently a member of the International Relations Commission at the Directorate of Research and Studies for the Overseas Indonesian Students’ Association Alliance (OISAA) 2022/2023.