European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited in July 2023 to strengthen strategic cooperation and trade relations. In May 2025, Germany and the Philippines signed a defense cooperation agreement to expand collaboration on cybersecurity, military logistics, defense armament, and UN peacekeeping operations. Beyond security, both Europe and the Indo-Pacific are vital engines of global trade and innovation. Meanwhile, the Indo-Pacific generates 60% of global GDP and contributes two-thirds of global economic growth, based on the European Union’s Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. The nations and peoples of Europe and the Indo-Pacific share more than one might imagine.