Research
Globalization has significantly transformed economies, increasing interdependencies through international trade, which grew from 26% of global GDP in 1970 to 63% in 2022. Maritime transport facilitates over 80% of this trade, with the Indo-Pacific region as a critical hub, hosting key shipping routes for energy, raw materials, and goods. However, this reliance on shipping creates vulnerabilities due to geopolitical tensions, natural disasters, and transnational threats like piracy. Maintaining maritime stability and securing supply chains require multilateral cooperation, technological innovation, and strengthened infrastructure.
In this HCSS volume edited by Benedetta Girardi and Young-ook Jang, a selection of guest authors explore the connection between maritime security and global supply chain resilience, focusing on the Indo-Pacific’s strategic importance. It highlights the need for international collaboration to address challenges, enhance port infrastructure, integrate advanced technologies, and bolster law enforcement. The role of small and middle powers, like the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the European Union (EU), is emphasized in fostering partnerships and advancing maritime stability.
Part 1 addresses maritime security, underscoring multilateral cooperation, including contributions from ASEAN and geographically distant states like the EU. Articles discuss the growing maritime ambitions in the Indo-Pacific, potential ROK-EU partnerships, ASEAN’s position amid Sino-American competition, and the EU’s maritime capacity-building initiatives. Naval diplomacy is also highlighted as a tool for small powers like the Netherlands to manage risks with limited resources.
Part 2 examines strengthening maritime supply chain resilience through measures such as port infrastructure enhancements, cybersecurity, and law enforcement. It explores trilateral cooperation between ROK, India, and the Netherlands in maritime and semiconductor industries to diversify critical supply chains. Collaboration in non-traditional security areas, including underwater infrastructure protection, is also proposed.
The volume concludes with reflections on maritime security’s role in ensuring economic stability and policy recommendations to enhance resilience. By focusing on the Indo-Pacific, it underscores the region’s pivotal role in shaping the future of global trade and maritime security.
Contributing authors: Ji Yeon-jung (Republic of Korea Naval Academy), Yu Jihoon (Korea Institute for Defence Analysis), Friso Dubbelboer (Leiden Asia Center), Niels van Willigen & Nicolas Blarel (Leiden University), Henk Warnar (Netherlands Defence Academy), Lee Na-young (Korea Maritime Institute), Kyunghoon Kim (Korea Institute for International Economic Policy), Benedetta Girardi & Julie Ebrard (HCSS – The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies).
Editors: Benedetta Girardi and Young-ook Jang
This HCSS report was commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea. The conclusions and recommendations presented in this study are the result of independent research. Responsibility for the content rests with the authors and the authors alone.