The High Commissions of Australia, India, and Singapore to the United Kingdom, in collaboration with the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), hosted the second Indo-Pacific Conference in London on November 25, 2024.
Building on the success of its inaugural edition in 2023, the event brought together leading experts and policymakers from the UK and the Indo-Pacific region to explore strategies for enhancing resilience, security, and prosperity in the region.
Catherine West, the UK's Minister for the Indo-Pacific at the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), delivered a keynote address outlining the UK's strategic priorities in the Indo-Pacific. She underscored the region's significance to the UK in three critical areas: fostering economic growth, tackling climate change, and strengthening both national and global security. West reaffirmed the UK's commitment to long-term engagement with the Indo-Pacific, rooted in shared interests and adherence to a rules-based international order.
“For us, this is a generational mission, a long-term strategic posture—not just a short-term shift for the sake of soundbites," she stated. "We want a free and open Indo-Pacific underpinned by the rules-based international system. Because rules matter. They matter for trade and growth, good governance, and our collective security.”
West highlighted four guiding principles for the UK's engagement in the region: Promoting peace and security in the Indo-Pacific, supporting economic growth and creating opportunities for all, advancing the clean energy transition. And achieving the Sustainable Development Goals while building resilient economies.
On the UK's partnership with ASEAN nations, West remarked, “The [ASEAN] bloc has surpassed the UK as the world’s fifth-largest economy, and our trading relationship is worth nearly £50 billion, with the UK ranking as ASEAN’s third-largest partner in financial services. But we can and must go further.”
She emphasised the UK's respect for ASEAN centrality and its role as a dialogue partner, stating, “We are working in partnership with ASEAN to support its priorities, whether in economic integration, climate and energy, education, health, or women’s peace and security.”
Her speech set the stage for in-depth discussions on geostrategic and economic engagement, military and defence dynamics, and climate change—critical issues impacting the long-term stability and sustainable development of the Indo-Pacific.
Held at three iconic locations—India House, Arundel House (IISS), and Australia House—the event underscored the strong collaborative ties between the host nations. Except for the welcome remarks and keynote address, the sessions were conducted off the record to encourage open and constructive dialogue on these pressing topics.
The conference featured a distinguished lineup of speakers, including HE Vikram Doraiswami, High Commissioner of India to the UK; HE The Hon Stephen Smith, Australian High Commissioner to the UK; HE Teck Hean Ng, High Commissioner of Singapore to the UK; Admiral (Retd) Karambir Singh, Chairman, National Maritime Foundation; Mohua Mukherjee, Senior Research Fellow, Oxford Institute for Energy Studies; Pramit Pal Chaudhuri, Head of South Asia Practice, Eurasia Group; Rahul Roy-Chaudhury, Senior Fellow, South and Central Asian Defence, IISS.
Indian High Commissioner to the UK, His Excellency Vikram Doraiswami, stressed the interconnectedness of the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions, noting the conference's pivotal role in fostering cooperation.
“Developments since our inaugural Indo-Pacific Conference last year have only further underlined the interdependence of these regions. This year’s conference is a timely opportunity to explore these linkages and consider our collective strengths and challenges," he said.
Doraiswami welcomed the inclusion of Southeast Asian perspectives and the collaboration of the Singapore High Commission, adding, “We share a vision of a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, with mutually beneficial cooperation underpinned by international law and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. We see this dynamic region not as a theatre of rivalry but as a potential super-connector for global cooperation.”
Rahul Roy-Chaudhury, IISS Senior Fellow for South and Central Asian Defence, Strategy, and Diplomacy, underscored the significance of the event, now elevated to a ministerial-led ‘track 1.5’ dialogue. He noted, “Strong UK ministerial and official participation signals the commitment of the new Sir Keir Starmer government to deepen partnerships with key countries of the Indo-Pacific region. Hosting the conference in partnership with the High Commissions of Australia, India, and Singapore builds upon the IISS’ annual Shangri-La Security Summit in Singapore and our annual defence, security, and technology workshop in New Delhi.”
The conference provided a platform for meaningful exchanges on the evolving challenges and opportunities in the Indo-Pacific, strengthening partnerships and paving the way for greater regional collaboration.
